I imagine that any number of human beings have watched the antics of animals and wondered about their communications. After being amused by the creatures that visited my backyard fruit trees, I was inspired to create a fictional tale of a persistent squirrel and bird who work at sharing the fruit of a backyard plum tree. These animals managed to keep a distance between them while pecking at the plums. However, a gardener provided a twist that ended their games. I have spent many years watching young children as they marvel over the behavior of animals. With children I have shared countless, delightful hours, wondering about what the animals were saying and pretending to understand why they behaved as they did. It is my hope that this story about the adventures of a squirrel and a bird would evoke the same kind of enjoyment as watching the animals. | The Backyard Plum Tree by Gwendolyn Fowlkes Harvey, Paperback | Indigo Chapters