Hide & Seek!

What happens when a moose and a mouse decide to play hide-and-seek? The mouse might just hide in the antlers of the moose, keeping the moose looking all over the place! That's just what happens to Mudgy Moose in a new children's book, Mudgy and Millie, written by Wee-Sing author and local resident, Susan Nipp. Mudgy looks all over Coeur d'Alene for Millie!

This book has created a lot of hype in town, for obvious reasons: first off, the author is well-known, and she lives here in town. Secondly, the hide-and-seek search in the book takes place right here in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Thirdly, a local artist has created some amazing sculptures of Mudgy and Millie which are placed all over town along the trail that Mudgy takes trying to find Millie.

The book came out just a couple weeks ago, and the author, illustrator and sculptor were all on hand to autograph copies. My mom, being a children's book connoisseur, just had to have an autographed copy. So, we headed downtown recently to meet the author, and to walk the Mudgy and Millie trail.

Author Susan Nipp (of Wee-Sing fame) signed our copy of Mudgy and Millie.

So did illustrator Charles Reasoner.

And, lastly, sculptor and local artist, Terry Lee.

Yes, my mother made me pose for a picture with Mudgy. I guess I can now say that I have hugged a (very soft) moose. :-)
We wanted to see all the moose, so we walked the trail. The trail begins at the bottom of Tubbs Hill. We didn't see the second moose on the trail because it is at the library, and we were going to drive there before we left, but we forgot. Ooops!

This is the third moose. He is placed on Sherman Ave. downtown.This is the fourth moose on the trail. Mudgy is tired and is resting in City Park. This is one of my favorites because Mudgy's face is so cute when he is sleeping. :-)

Mudgy finally finds Millie when he stops to get a drink from Lake Coeur d'Alene. He bends over and sees Millie in his reflection. I think this moose is my favorite because it overlooks the steps and I love how it is positioned with the flag pole right behind it. Congratulations, Mudgy -- you found Millie!

Sound like a cute story? Look for Mudgy and Millie at your local bookstore!