Planting Seeds of Kindness: Tumbleberry Tales

In our last post, we discussed why the resilient Saguaro is the symbol for our Stuck on Love novels. On the other end of the grove, we have the joyful adventures of Tumbleberry Tales for our youngest readers. At the center of it all is Tumbleberry Hedgehog, our brave—if slightly unlikely—world traveler.

Hero in the Hedges

A hedgehog might seem like an odd sort of adventurer. In the wild, they are naturally shy, solitary, and famously "prickly." Their first instinct when faced with the unknown is to curl into a tight ball, using their thousands of stiff quills as a shield. It’s a very safe way to live, but also a very lonely one.

This is what makes Tumbleberry such a great hero. To see the world, Tumbleberry has to make a choice: he has to uncurl and lower his defenses and roll out of his comfort zone to face the big, wide world.

Did you know that despite their small size, hedgehogs are incredibly hardy? They can travel up to two miles in a single night looking for food. They're also famous for their "self-anointing" behavior—when they encounter a new scent, they process it and spread it on their quills. To me, that's the perfect metaphor for a traveler; they take a piece of every new culture and experience and carry it with them wherever they go.

Growing Empathetic Global Citizens

As a teacher, mother, and grandmother, I’ve seen firsthand how critical it is to nurture a child's social-emotional growth. Tumbleberry Tales bridges my love for learning about our diverse world with this vital goal.

Every book follows Tumbleberry and a different crew of animals through unique biomes—from the heart of the Congo to the dusty Australian Outback. Along the way, they encounter situations that teach lessons about patience, honesty, and the strength found in working with others.

We currently have the African Safari set of seven books and the Down Under Mates set of six ready for your home or classroom, and Tumbleberry's already packed his bags for another exciting expedition later this year!

By following Tumbleberry as he uncurls and meets the world with an open heart, we’re planting seeds of kindness to help children grow into empathetic beings who aren't afraid to explore the world and meet new friends.