by Reg Down (Author)
Tiptoes Lightly lives in an acorn high up in the branches of a Great Oak Tree. One morning she finds a note lying on her floor. It says: "Please help! Bee has lost his buzz!" She and her friend, Jeremy Mouse, set off down Running River to help the hapless bee. Mr. Cactus, being grumpy and extra thorny, has snagged Bee's buzz on one of his thorns. Thus begins the adventure that takes Tiptoes to the house of Pine Cone and Pepper Pot (they're not at home-just yet), down to the sea to untangle Octopus (he's too young to count his legs properly and gets them mixed up), and up to Snowy Mountain to find out from Jack Frost himself whether he is a gnome (Pepper Pot says he's a gnome because he makes crystals) or a fairy (Tiptoes says he's a fairy because he flies through the air). Jack Frost tells his own creation myth which answers the question in a powerful and striking way.The 'Tales of Tiptoes Lightly' is comprised of three adventures: 'The Bee who lost his Buzz', 'Pumpkin Crow' and 'Lucy Goose and the Half-egg.' Lavishly and lovingly illustrated by the artist-author, they are humorous, sanguine and droll. They are innocent and magical nature tales, suitable for reading to young children or for young children to read.
Author Biography
Reg Down grew up in Canada, Namibia, South Africa and Ireland. He trained as a eurythmist, an art of movement and gesture, in England and Germany. The father of three, he has taught eurythmy in Waldorf schools in Australia, Canada and the United States. Many of his children's books, including this title, arose out of his work with kindergarten and the younger grades. He is also the author of Leaving Room for the Angels, AWSNA Publications, a book on eurythmy and artistic pedagogy, and Color and Gesture-the Inner Life of Color, Lightly Press. He lives in Sacramento, California.