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Welcome to the Blog Tour for the Oakwoods Series by Kathy J. Perry, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
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About the Series
Pip O'Possum (Work Then Play)
Sally Skunkskin (Grumbles to Grateful)
Benjamin Bat (Humility)
Nuts (Sharing is Caring)
Jeremy Jay (Resilience)
Author: Kathy J. Perry
Publisher: Chickadee Words
Release Date: April 4, 2025
Genre: Early Reader Chapter Books (ages 5-8)
These warm stories invite readers into a woodland world that feels very classic and fun. Kids will like meeting the animals in the Oakwoods series. As they read about the animals' adventures, friendships, and foibles, they'll also discover timeless lessons that feel authentic to the characters and the Oakwoods world—and also applicable to our daily lives.
Teachers and parents of young readers transitioning from picture books will appreciate the easy-to-read font, a glossary, “What If?” discussion questions about the story & application to real life, and a “Did You Know?” section with surprising facts about the real animal. (i.e. blue jays aren’t really blue!)
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EXCERPTS:
PIP O’POSSUM:
“That’s a lot to think about. I guess it’s about time I grow up. Will I still have time for fun?”
“Sure! There’s time for both work and play. But if you don’t do the hard labor—and I mean to the very best of your ability—you won’t succeed in life. You might end up as one of my meals. That would be unfortunate for you, wouldn’t it? Would you rather live—and live well—or be my breakfast?”
Boon covered his eyes with his goggles and blinked.
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SALLY SKUNKSKIN: (ending)
Over time, Sally made several friends: a skunk named Samson, the entire O’Possum family, and the raccoon who didn’t trust her. The raccoon even apologized for being unfriendly. But Amos became her best friend.
He and Sally talked whenever she stopped by his dam for a drink, her beautiful tail held high.
Sally and her new friends helped one another in good times and bad. Her grumbles were buried in her past. At last, Sally Skunkskin’s heart was grateful for everything: her home, food to eat, and most of all, her close friends.
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BENJAMIN BAT:
I’ll show her some tricks she can’t do.
“Watch this now,” he said as he fluttered away. Benjamin zipped and zapped all over the ravine. He sailed over trees and between narrow branches, giving a grand performance for the flycatcher.
Curious, Benjamin glanced toward JoJo for a split- second. His mistake cost him.
A barred owl was in hot pursuit!
Instantly realizing his error, Benjamin turned sharply to avoid capture, but one of the owl’s talons pierced his wing! For a few seconds, Benjamin was helpless.
The owl carried him upward, but his wing’s skin tore, freeing Benjamin.
Without full support from both wings, he nose-dived, slapping flat against a large boulder in the gulch. He rolled down hill through broken rocks and tangled roots.
“Ow! Ow!” he cried with each bump and bounce. The barred owl, whose sharp eyes never lost sight of Benjamin, dove down to finish him off.
JoJo sprang into action.
Shocked and angry, she tackled the much larger bird, pecking at its back over and over until it moved on to find an easier meal. Worried for her new friend, she swooped down to Benjamin’s rescue. “Are you okay?”
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NUTS:
Poppy’s stomach grumbled, so she scurried down her tree to dig up a nut—but another squirrel was already there. With her paws on her hips, she stood up and said, “Wait a minute, Hickory. This is MY walnut. Mine! I hid this one, along with many others. I’m sure of it.”
Hickory crossed his arms over his chest. “No, Poppy. I buried this one.”
Neither hoarder would give the nut to the other. They were far too hungry to share but not too hungry to argue. For several minutes, they ignored the exposed treasure.
Andy, another gray squirrel, sneaked between them, snatched the prize for himself, and scrambled up to his nest.
Andy’s movements were so quick that neither Poppy nor Hickory saw him grab it. Poppy only noticed it was missing when she bent down to grab it herself.
“Now see what you’ve done?” Poppy said. “It’s gone.”
“Well, I didn’t take it,” said Hickory, still not unfolding his arms.
The two of them searched the ground but couldn’t find the nut. At least not until Poppy heard “nibble, nibble” coming from above.
She pointed up to the branches. “I think Andy’s got it.”
Hickory’s mouth fell open. “Well, I’ll be...”
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JEREMY JAY:
“Hmm.”
Jeremy picked up his claw and stared at it. His talons lay flat and twisted.
“Hard to imagine how this could ever be useful, though. It’s not like it makes my other leg better. Wouldn’t that be nice?”
Boon puffed out his chest. He didn’t like animals putting themselves down. There was no feeling bad for yourself on his watch.“
No one’s perfect. No one, nowhere.
“I’ve always strived for perfection, even with this.”
Jeremy turned his head to the side. Isn’t perfection the goal?
“Do the best you can with what you have, bub. That’s it. When you do, you’ve won. But it takes practice and hard work.”
Jeremy held his foot out for Boon to study. If they were going to talk about it, then this huge bird should see it all, so that he could know it all. “How can this ever be useful?”
“Open your mind, boy. Start imaginin’ it as a tool for nest-buildin’. Start thinkin’ of how you can use it. You might surprise yourself by what you can do.”
“Thanks, Boon.”
“You’re welcome. Just remember, nobody’s perfect.”
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PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | KathyJPerry.com | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
About the Author
Of the many jobs I’ve held in the past, including thirty-five years of designing and constructing stained glass windows part-time, teaching was one of the most enjoyable for me because investing in kids is so important. To this end, I continue to encourage good character with clean, moral stories kids and teens love to read. Good books make such an impact.
Writing is hard work, but there’s nothing like a good story to run off with your imagination. When things are flowing, it’s like a vacation. Sometimes the best ideas come in the middle of the night.
When not writing, you’ll find me painting with watercolor, doing school visits, writing a blog, interviewing other writers, designing websites, working as an administrative assistant part-time, and renovating houses.
Is this retirement? Apparently so! I’m loving every minute of it with my husband of 43 years.
Connect with Kathy J. Perry by visiting kathyjperry.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email updates.
Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will receive a 5-book signed softcover bundle of the Oakwoods Series, bookmarks, and a $50 Amazon digital gift card!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight June 24, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on July 1, 2025. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
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