Putnam and Pennyroyal

In this heartwarming chapter book, nine-year-old Cora Lee enjoys her regular fishing outings with her Uncle Frank. During these trips, Uncle Frank spins engaging stories about two grebes, the cautious Putnam and the lively Pennyroyal. As Cora Lee listens, she begins to understand that her uncle is subtly sharing his own feelings, experiences, and perhaps even his relationship with her, through the characters of these birds. It is a gentle story about intergenerational bonds, the power of storytelling, and the subtle ways we communicate our inner selves.

While listening to her uncle as he tells a story about grebes, nine-year-old Cora Lee realizes that he is revealing something about himself through the characters he creates.