Across from my house lies our neighborhood park. From my front yard, I can see the small bridge that traverses the creek. We often see small herds of deer feeding on the grass in the park. One doe that lives in my brother’s back yard has borne many fawns in recent years, so we enjoy watching the fawns grow. Sometimes the deer visit our back yard and feed on our garden and eat the next door neighbor’s flowers.
Occasionally fawns are found in the bushes in the park without their mothers, and people make the mistake of petting and holding the fawns. They don’t realize the mothers will return shortly. The fawns are told by their mothers to stay in their safe places until the mothers return. Handling the fawns may affect their bonding with the mothers.
My husband and I love to take drives to the local wetlands and count the deer we see on the drives. It’s so exciting to see huge herds, especially the newborn fawns and, on occasion, the bucks.
Where do people get their fascination with deer? I recall Disney’s movie, Bambi, which was about an orphaned fawn. I felt devastated for this little animal as well as for myself because at my young age, the idea of losing my parents and having to fend for myself was unimaginable.
Lauren Scott’s latest book, Cora’s Quest, is an endearing short story about how a fawn’s temporary separation from her parents teaches her how to manage fear. Lauren Scott’s tale reinforces the important role a family plays as a protector and a child’s ability to endure a difficult challenge. The tension of a child separated from loved ones creates suspense for readers. Will Cora find her parents or be orphaned by circumstance? But Scott balances the tension with tenderness. The book’s Illustrations are adorable. This book is a great addition to a child’s library.
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