The Gathering

Queenie the squirrel and Buster the blue jay are back! Our story begins one year after their discovery of the Enchanted Forest with its wish-granting acorn.

Our heroic duo face a catastrophic event, threatning not only the entire forest but all of their families, friends and the wildlife. Their only hope is a blue acorn, upon which Buster must express a wish for help. The response comes back in the form of this riddle:

"Straight as an arrow the water flows Rolling right or left it seldom goes Unless by force I change its progression And lead it now in a new direction"

Queenie and Buster, along with their families and some new friends, face a challenge that will require teamwork, trust, belief and above all, faith.

Time is running out!

MARGARET PISCITELLI realized at a young age that she loved animals. Her family moved to Delaware from Philadelphia, and their new home included a backyard. This small plot of green became a haven to many forms of wildlife. Visitors included a variety of bird species, bunny rabbits, turtles, possums, groundhogs, foxes, deer, and, of course, manic squirrels. On occasion, animals that had sustained any form of injury prompted her to attempt a rescue, and not just to the ones in her backyard. An injured seagull she discovered on the shoulder of the highway was delivered to a local bird rescue center. One injured squirrel received antibiotics on a peanut butter cracker. He recovered! Margaret’s connection to animals has continued to deepen and writing this story is her way of paying tribute. A percentage of all book sales will be donated to animal organizations in honor of her rescue dog Buddy.