written by W. John Funk
illustrated by Norah G. Glass
What’s a Chipmunk to Do?
“Dangling from the string, Cosy rode higher and higher from the ground. The wind buffeted her wildly from side to side. With each swing, the string tightened on her paws until they ached with pain. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she could barely breathe from fright. As she lurched and twisted in the wind, it was difficult to get her bearings…
“The world was so much bigger than she had ever imagined. She was terrified and amazed at the same time. But then, scary thoughts crossed her mind. ‘How am I going to get home? Will I ever see my family again? Is this the end?’”
From the Ground Up is an adventure story involving Cosy, a chipmunk pup, and her family. The adventure takes place on Peaks Island, off the coast of Maine. Along the way, Cosy encounters humans, gulls, hawks, foxes, and other dangers. Cosy exhibits curiosity, courage, resourcefulness, and compassion to discover herself and deliver her family to safety. It’s a timeless coming-of-age tale told through the experiences of a chipmunk.
The story was conceived by a grandfather and grandchild. Their writings and illustrations have created this vibrant and imaginative story.
About the Author and the Illustrator
John is a retired attorney and resides in Portland, Maine. The story was inspired by the arrival of lots of chipmunks one summer at his family’s cottage on Peaks Island, Maine. Some of the chipmunks were transported to the back shore of the island in a Havahart trap. That event triggered John’s and Norah’s imaginations, and Cosy’s adventure took flight from the ground up.
Norah resides in Lexington, Kentucky. Norah presently attends the School for Creative and Performing Arts as a sixth grader. Norah and John discussed the storyline for Cosy’s adventure in 2021 and began working on the project in 2022. At an early age, Norah demonstrated an interest and skill as an artist and illustrated all the pictures in the book. Most illustrations were drawn when Norah was ten and eleven years old.
$13.95