Civic duty. Stand up for what’s right with wisdom, respect, and a willingness to listen.
When Theodore gets an important phone call, he invites Shawn on the trip of a lifetime: a journey to Washington, D.C. to lobby for fresh, natural hay. There’s a lot to do first — Shawn needs a proper suit, a crash course in why good hay matters, and a few lessons in how to explain an idea simply and well.
For Shawn, nearly everything is a first. His first tailored suit. His first airplane ride (he assumed they’d take a cab all 1,000 miles). His first wide-eyed look at the nation’s capital — its towering monuments, a quiet war memorial that leaves him humbled, and the grand halls of the White House itself.
Then comes the biggest moment of all: lunch in the Oval Office with an old friend of Theodore’s — the President. A tongue-tied Shawn does his nervous best while President Thump explains the trouble brewing in Congress, where some want to replace wholesome natural hay with cheap, fake stuff that makes bunnies’ tummies hurt. The odds, the President warns, are not in their favor — especially once Shawn sees just who fills the halls of Congress.
A wonder-filled, gently educational adventure about seeing your country, doing your civic duty, and being the best you can be in a world full of weasels. This is Part 1 — the story continues.
Readability
This is a picture book for a parent to read aloud to a child, not an early reader. The natural fit is ages 4–8 read aloud, and roughly 6–9 for independent reading. At around 39 pages it’s a longer, wordier outing than most in the series, and it reaches for bigger ideas and vocabulary — Washington, Congress, the Senate, lobbying, monuments — so it leans a little older and makes a natural tie-in for a first conversation about how government works. The tone stays warm and full of wonder (Shawn’s first airplane ride, his awe at the monuments), with light humor and no scary content; a quiet moment at a war memorial is handled with gentle respect. A brief epilogue, written in the author’s own voice, reflects on speaking with respect and listening to understand. A warm, faith-filled, biblically based story about curiosity, civic duty, and being your best in a world full of weasels. Note: this is Part 1, so the story continues into a second book.
Sneak Peak
