Into the Forest

By Ann Bennett-Cookson

Forests are magical. Emma lived in a house built on the outskirts of a small Maine town where the woods grew all around. The sounds coming from the forest fascinated Emma, especially when she heard rustling in the bushes as small creatures stirred. She heard sighing in the trees as the wind danced among the branches. At night an owl perched in the tree that grew near her bedroom window. It called out into the night: Hoo! Hoo! Hoooo! She listened closely feeling it was speaking directly to her. 
One day, something happened. Well, actually a lot happened! The whole day just kept getting worse and worse. When all was said and done, everyone was angry with Emma. That night her thoughts swirled, dark and heavy. She was ready for something different. Something new and exciting. She wanted to call the shots. Make her own rules and go when and where she wanted to go. She wasn't a baby anymore! She was ten years old now, and it was time for action!  She wanted to know what secrets the forest held. Before she fell asleep, she came up with a plan. Satisfied, she snuggled into her blanket, closed her eyes, slipping away into somewhere shadowy. Her eyelids fluttered as she dreamed. She dreamed about the secret sounds of the forest and magic waiting to be discovered.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ann Bennett-Cookson
• Release date: Oct 23, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393039181

Book preview

Chapter 1

Emma

Forests are magical. Emma lived in a house built on the outskirts of a small Maine town where the woods grew all around.

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The sounds coming from the forest fascinated Emma, especially when she heard rustling in the bushes as small creatures stirred. She heard sighing in the trees as the wind danced among the branches. She imagined herself as a bird flying above the tree line watching the trees dance with the wind.

At night an owl perched in the tree that grew near her bedroom window. It called out into the night: Hoo! Hoo! Hoooo! She listened closely feeling it was speaking directly to her.

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Emma would sit on the window seat staring at the shadowy tree. Sometimes she saw the owl’s glowing eyes staring back at her. She watched and listened until the bird spread its wings to silently swoop away into the darkness.

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A very old apple tree grew in their yard. Its twisted branches were a great place for a swing, which Emma used every chance she got. Facing the nearby forest, she would swing higher and higher wondering what it would be like to explore the secrets the forest held.

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Emma swinging

Emma Swinging

Red, wormy apples dropped to the ground in late summer. Sometimes deer crept out in the early morning when the mist still hovered over the dewy grass to eat the apples.

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A rock wall, crumbling away in places with splotches of lichen and moss snaked behind her house. It was built by an unknown farmer long before Emma or even her parents were