How one gentle storybook is quietly becoming a conversation about belonging, childhood, and the environments we forget to protect.
There are children’s books that entertain.
There are children’s books that teach.
And then there are children’s books that do something subtly bigger, they remind us of something we didn’t realize we’d lost.
The Tails of Thorngate is that kind of book.
At first glance, it’s a sweet story about dogs, meadows, and woodland “tails.” But beneath its watercolor softness, it carries a message that feels urgently relevant in today’s world: children need places, real or imagined, where they can feel rooted, connected, and safe.
This book offers that refuge.
Where have all the quiet places gone?
Before Thorngate became a neighborhood, it was a meadow, full of deer, foxes, skunks, rabbits, and wild “tails” that knew the land better than any human could.
Then came the noise. The machines. The development. The displacement.
Sound familiar?
Urban expansion has become background noise in modern life, but rarely do children’s books pause to acknowledge what is lost in the process, and what can grow back.
The Tails of Thorngate dares to begin there.
This book pushes back against overstimulated childhoods and reminds readers that wonder doesn’t need sparkles, it needs presence.
It offers a simple but powerful truth: communities aren’t built by buildings… they’re built by the creatures who live in them.
It’s A Children’s Book That Speaks To Adults, Too
On its surface, it’s a story about animals. Underneath, it’s a reflection on:
- environmental displacement
- neighborhood transformation
- the meaning of home
- generational change
- rebuilding what was lost
Adults recognize these currents immediately. Children feel them intuitively.
This dual-layer storytelling is one reason educators say the book works exceptionally well for:
- emotional learning
- nature and environment lessons
- discussions about community
- encouraging empathy toward animals and people
The Tails of Thorngate is more than a charming picture book. It’s a gentle reminder for children and adults, about the places that shape us, the creatures that share those places with us, and the importance of noticing things before they disappear.
It asks a simple question:
What makes a place feel like home?
And its answer is something every generation can appreciate.
About The Author
Beth Ann Roberts was born and raised in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where the quiet beauty of meadows, wooded paths, and close-knit neighborhoods shaped her earliest sense of wonder. A graduate of Lampeter-Strasburg High School, she has always held a deep appreciation for the places and creatures that make a community feel like home. Beth Ann previously published three devotions in the Run for God Devotional series and continues to bring warmth, empathy, and reflection into her writing.
She works as a Student Support Specialist at Millersville University, where she helps guide and encourage students throughout their academic journey. Beth Ann lives in Millersville with her husband, Keith, and their beloved furbabies, Hobbs and Archer. She enjoys spending quality time with her two children, their spouses, and her three grandsons. The Tails of Thorngate is a celebration of the landscapes and relationships that shaped her life, and a heartfelt reminder of the magic found in the everyday places we share.
Availability
The Tails of Thorngate is available on: Amazon, Website
Purchase links and retail distribution can be provided upon request.
Media Contact
Company Name: Glaston bury publications
Contact Person: Beth Ann Roberts
Email: Send Email
Country: United States
Website: https://bethrobertsbookshelf.com/
