Sometimes big stories happen in small places. Sometimes big things happen to small creatures. This is one of those stories . . . Cecil is a toad. A toad busy doing what any other toad does with its days–judging the pond splashing contest (Reggie the fly is usually the honorary winner by dint of his five-day lifespan), or visiting his friends, Jeff the free-range hamster, Rayray the lizard, Jeremy the worm, or Sprout the frog. And, of course, trying to keep clear of the local hawk. But when Cecil discovers a freeway construction project aimed right at the pond, he knows he has to come up with a plan to save his home. But what can a small group of amphibians and a reincarnating fly do against construction vehicles and a steady onslaught of hot asphalt? Cecil isn’t sure, but he knows they have to try (Source).

Author(s): Paige Braddock

Paige Braddock is the Creative Director at Charles M. Schulz Creative Associates. Braddock had the opportunity to train under Schulz, her childhood hero, prior to his retirement. She has illustrated several “Peanuts” children’s books, the Snoopy U.S. postage stamp issued in 2001, and the Newsweek cover featuring Snoopy following Schulz’s death in 2000. She lives with her wife Evelyn and their two dogs and a cat in Sebastopol, California (Source).