Chickadeeland—it’s a “twilogy”
From staff reports
One evening eight years ago, in the heart of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Faith Lewis looked out her picture window towards Lake Michigan. Chickadees rose up from the bird feeder and darted into the woods. She leaned forward and watched them disappear.
Though dementia was taking away her power of speech, Faith’s expression spoke clearly: “Where do those little birds go?”
Faith’s caregiver was Bill O. Smith, a recently retired elementary school principal who happened to love rhyme and storytelling. He asked Faith, “With chickadee caps on chickadee heads, do they sleep eight across on chickadee beds?”
Faith laughed. Later Bill asked, “From northern woods to the Alabamas, what do chickadees wear for pajamas?” Faith laughed again, and her laughter launched three books. Bill’s couplets eventually became the “up north” best-seller Chickadees at Night, which begat the holiday treat The Chickadee Spirit, which begat the third and brand new book in the series, Chickadeeland.
Chickadeeland celebrates national parks and shores of America, including of course our own Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Michael Soukup, recently retired chief scientist for the National Park Service, calls Chickadeeland “a beautiful, delightful introduction to America’s natural wonders.”
Renowned local water colorist Charles R. Murphy has lent his talents and sense of whimsy to illustrate the entire “twilogy.” As author Smith says, “I could be Shakespeare, but these are picture books.”
All three flights of fancy honor nature, beauty, whimsy, and community—ideas dear to Faith’s heart. When Chickadees at Night was first published, Smith took Faith on a road trip all the way to the shores and stores of New England. According to Smith, when dementia arrives you have to adjust your expectations. “For Faith and I, it was about replacing beautiful memories with beautiful moments. And in the moment, the New England sights and sounds—and milkshakes—gave her great joy. Smith called it ‘the greatest trip she’ll never remember.’”
That journey continues now with Chickadeeland. It is available, along with the other two chickadee books, at most area bookstores and gift shops. For those wishing ‘personalized” copies, Smith will be at the Glen Arbor Holiday Marketplace after Thanksgiving, and at Leland’s Merry Marketplace Dec. 1.
The chickadee books are proudly printed in the USA. All profits from the sale of all three book will be shared by national and regional nonprofit groups who love our parks and planet. Locally, the recipients include Historic Sleeping Bear Preservation, FLOW (For Love Of Water), Groundwork Center, and Grand Traverse Regional Land Conversancy.
You can see all three books, and hear complete readings, at BillOSmith.com.
