Runty's Adventure: A Story of Love

A small African animal, a Hyrax, leaves the comfort of his home to experience a bigger life in East Africa. In each chapter, Runty meets a different animal -- an elephant, gazelle, leopard, zebra, python, shark, and some storks. In doing so, he conquers his fear with his heartfelt love that heals each animal as he moves on to his next adventure. There is a complete glossary of all the animals in the book. This fictional tale is enhanced by Hawaiian artist, Dana Queen's original art.

About the Author :
Chaffee K Castleton travelled all over the world writing about her adventures. She lived in East Africa for four months and fell in love with those animals. She also worked for the Red Cross in Korea. In 1948 she married Henry Castleton, a concert violinist, and had one daughter, Julia. She also wrote poetry for the Christian Science Monitor and had a weekly travel column in the Van Nuys News. During these same years she was a drama critic and a film reviewer for several Southern California newspapers. She had a life-long love for animals and this was her last writing. Through many years of painting alongside renown surrealist John Pitre, who himself studied at the world famous Art Student League in New York, Dana Queen developed the classical Old Masters technique of oil painting.

Review :
Press Release - Runty's Adventure: A Journey of Love by Chaffee CastletonRunty, a round, furry little hyrax, leaves the safety of his treetop home and follows his loving heart across the African Serengeti.This exceptionally well-written book is ideally suited for reading aloud to children by their parents or family. Runty's Adventure also is perfect for libraries or classroom study: a poetic and vibrant approach to teaching the enormous diversity of animals and their way of life in the numerous environments and climates across East Africa.The writer's daughter, Julia Castleton, was the light bearer behind her mother's book. She speaks lovingly and insightfully about the author's viewpoint. "Like Runty, my mother felt the world tug at her mightily. She left the safety of her home and went out adventuring, which was something very courageous for a woman at that time. She was born in 1912. She truly believed that if you go out with a heart full of love, and without prejudice and bias that you can transform others and bring out the love in others."Each animal lives on unprotected ground. All animals are living on a battlefield of sheer survival. Each of them requires a specific environment in which to live and thrive. We see how fragile life is in the tempestuous, unforgiving Serengeti. Each species has their role. The elephants have no concern for the trees they trample when they're looking for food. Yet the trampled forest turns to grassland - each animal recreates themselves and the landscape. "My mother was a great observer and, just like Runty, did not want to change or dominate or alter the natural flow. Even toward the end of her long life she was still filled with awe and wonder. She would say to me - if you're bored with humans, go into the ever fascinating and always interesting sanctuary of nature and find your wonderment." A stirring, uplifting allegory about finding your place, and getting what you give. Author Chaffee Castleton writes with a poetic flair that stays on track and delivers a timeless message. -Kit Crawford, Screenwriter