Bill O. Smith’s Chickadees travel to the North Pole

From staff reports

In doing research for the fourth book in his chickadee series—this one is called Chickadees in December, and published this fall—local author Bill O. Smith reports that he went all the way to the North Pole. We wanted to know why, and what he discovered there.

Glen Arbor Sun: First of all, why? Why go to the North Pole?

Bill Smith: It started with the rumors. 

Sun: Rumors?

Smith: Right. While researching my other chickadee books, I had heard murmurings about chickadees ranging as far north as the North Pole. And not only that, but that these tough and tender little birds were doing something important up there. I needed to see for myself. 

Sun: How did you get there?

Smith: Well, the Polar Express took me all the way up to Sugarplum Station. From there, Twizzle took me the rest of the way on foot. 

Sun: Twizzle?

Smith: Yes he’s a Hospitality Elf. They all have very specialized jobs.. Anyhow, we got lost a bit in the candy cane forest, then found a shortcut thorough the Barbie gardens, and into Christmas village.

Sun: Any chickadees in that forest?

Smith: No, of course not. Chickadees only eat seeds and insects—no sugar. Now bears, however, are known for the sweet tooth. They loved to lick that candy cane.  I’ve never seen happier Teddies.

Sun: One can only imagine. But you mentioned the village. What were your very first impressions?

Smith: First, the rooftops. Very steep. Covered with frost and squiggly designs.  And reindeer, trying to stick the landing, but tumbling over the edges into snow mounds below. I guess they forgot how to stop. 

Sun: Any other problems?

Smith: Unfortunately yes. The Wheel-O-Matic was going whacky. Half the duckies had no quacky. Trucks were stuck in the…

Sun: Whoa! The Wheel-o-Matic?

Smith: Yes. Wheels were coming out  in every shape but round. What kid wants a bicycle with square wheels?

Sun: That’s not good.

Smith: Yes–it’s a mess

Sun: But back to the chickadees?

Smith: Right. The rumors were true. They’re there, and they do a big, big job.

Sun: What do they do?

Smith: Let me ask you this first: what two things do we all know about chickadees?

Sun: Well, we know they don’t mind the cold, and also, they don’t seem to mind being near people.

Smith: Exactly. And that’s why chickadees help the North Pole nation answer the biggest question of all.

Sun: The biggest question of all–don’t hold us in suspense.

Smith: Who remembered to be a good little tot, and who forgot??

Sun: Ahhh… that is a VERY big question.

Smith: Right. And every year that one question needs to be answered about EVERY boy and EVERY girl in EVERY corner of the world. Who else but chickadees have the time and the speed – and the courage—to find every kid, get the answer, and report back north by December 24.

Sun: So once they find each child, how do they determine the answer?

Smith: I asked Twizzle the same thing. He said: “I thinks they all got goodness, don’t you?” Anyhow, discovering that goodness is what CHICKADEES IN DECEMBER is all about.

Sun: A great Christmas present!

Smith: Yes, thank you. But this is also a book you may want to read together BEFORE Christmas, just to be on the safe side.

Sun: Whew, what a story. Personally, I’ve never understood how our friends up north found the time to do everything that needs to be done.

Smith: It helps that the North Pole, with the way that magnetism works, actually has twenty-FIVE hours a day. That extra hour is magical.

Sun: I’ll bet it is. Well thank you, Bill O. Smith, for sharing your adventure with NE readers today.

Smith: You’re very welcome

Sun: One final question: Honestly, is there really a North Pole, an actual pole?

Smith: Ah, very perceptive—you got me there. No, there is no North Pole.

Sun: I thought not.

Smith: It’s more of a tower. And at the top of the tower a small bright red light shines 364 days a year, a beacon for all air travel passing that way.

Sun: A red light?

Smith: Yes, it seems Rudolph is always guiding the way for others, sleigh or no sleigh.

Sun: Unbelievable!

Smith: Unbelievable, indeed. Merry Christmas, everyone!