Hazel Ridge Farm

Illustrator Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen and wife Robbyn team up again for another wildlife tale drawn from their encounters with the animal kingdom. Told in journal form and rendered in beautifully detailed artwork, the van Frankenhuyzens give a 'day in the life' view as the fox Samantha begins her journey from injured kit to independent adult living on her own. Always respecting the boundaries between the wild and the human ways of life and based on years of work as licensed wildlife rehabilitators, Gijsbert and Robbyn recommend readers 'do not try this at home.'

From the Author (Robbyn van Frankenhuyzen): 'For twenty years we have rehabilitated a wide variety of wild critters, from fawns, foxes, skunks, and crows to opossums, raccoons, rabbits, and owls. Some of the animals were injured adults, others were orphaned babies, but all of them were in need of a little help to get them back into the wild. Growing up on a farm, as well as my training as an animal technician, prepared me for many of the medical situations that arose. Gijsbert took every opportunity to sketch, paint, and photograph our temporary guests during their stay on the farm. More importantly, Gijsbert was issued all the Federal and State permits needed to care for birds of prey. Without these permits, we would never have been able to care for hawks and owls. For good reason, caring for these birds is very tightly regulated and closely monitored. Taking an owl from its nest is dangerous and illegal. We have cared for many Great Horned Owls but none of them were like Jackson, the owl in this story. His personality was unique from the very beginning and we know that we were lucky to have shared such a close bond with this wild bird. This is the true story of his life with us. Enjoy.' With illustrations from Gjisbert (Nick) van Frankenhuyzen, noted wildlife artist and illustrator of our Legends series as well as The Blue Spruce by Mario Cuomo and L is for Lincoln: An Illinois Alphabet.

While pulling weeds and planting seeds with her dad on Hazel Ridge Farm's prairie, Heather discovers a wood duckling alone in the grass. Worried for the duckling's safety, Heather asks her dad if she can care for him. 'You have to keep him safe and warm and fed. You have to teach him how to be a duck--to swim, to hunt for bugs, and how to fly.' Aptly named Mr. Peet for his chirping sound, the duckling accompanies Heather as she feeds the chickens, rabbits, and horses. They spend the summer swimming together in the pond, and Mr. Peet eventually masters how to fly. Heather becomes concerned when she hasn't seen Mr. Peet in 10 days. Her dad reassures her that the wood duck may have found his own place in nature. Heather is proud of her work and she knows Mr. Peet will be ok, because she loved him just enough.

One spring, as part of their animal rescue work on Hazel Ridge Farm, Gijsbert (Nick) and Robbyn van Frankenhuyzen find themselves caring for a lamb and an orphaned fawn at the same time. They name the lamb Teeny Weeny and the fawn Itsy Bitsy. Raised as 'siblings,' the two youngsters are inseparable that summer, sharing a playpen in the house, romping together, and just getting into general mischief. As the seasons change, Itsy Bitsy and Teeny Weeny grow into their true selves, away from 'Mother' Robbyn and each other. Nature must take its course and the two animals go their separate ways: one back to a life in the wild and the other on to domestic farm life. Warmly illustrated by wildlife artist Gijsbert van Frankhuyzen, this bittersweet story is another gentle lesson in how nature works on Hazel Ridge Farm.

As a young girl growing up on Hazel Ridge Farm, Kelly is aware of how special the place she calls home is. After all, it's not everyday that your backyard lets you view white-tailed deer and sand-hill cranes, swim in ponds populated by snapping turtles or hear the hoot of an owl named Jackson as he keeps watch as you sleep each night. Committed to maintaining a natural wilderness, Kelly's parents have created a wildlife sanctuary where both the land and its animal residents can be nurtured.Kelly of Hazel Ridge is the third title in the Hazel Ridge Farm series (Saving Samantha and Adopted by an Owl) by husband-and-wife team Gijsbert and Robbyn Smith van Frankenhuyzen, and is inspired by their life on their 40-acre farm located in Bath, Michigan. For over 20 years, Robbyn and Gijsbert (also known as Nick) have nurtured the land back to health and raised and released injured and orphaned animals.