DD, Bernadine Turner, PhD

The Adventures of Not Vital, The Happy Face Squirrel DD, Bernadine Turner, PhD

The Adventures of "Not Vital" the Happy-Face Squirrel tells the stories of a delightful and obedient squirrel who faces many life challenges daily. Not Vital gets up each morning with the sole desire to explore all of life='s adventures with excitement full of close calls and acrobatics. Because of his positive attitude and his ability to listen to his elders and learn from them, he manages to skillfully overcome the most difficult situations as he accesses various solutions and always chooses the correct one to achieve his goals. He has a genuine love for family and friends, which makes him a role model and an outstanding citizen of River Bend near the levee. As he goes about his day helping others, he sees the worth of his family and their traditions and culture, which contributes greatly to their society as a whole and the part that they contribute. Not Vital learns to appreciate the cultural differences that all the inhabitants of the community bring, which they must embrace for peace and love to reign. Everyone has a story, and everyone is important to the community for it to thrive and survive. As the adventures unfold, the entire community begins to recognize that Not Vital is a very vital force.