Ms. April & Ms. Mae: A Fable

Cover of a book titled 'Ms. April & Ms. Mae: A fable' by Karen Dugan, illustrated with a woman and a fox sitting at a table filled with books, teapot, and snacks, surrounded by colorful houses at the top and bottom borders.

Written and Illustrated by Karen Dugan

Ms. April & Ms. Mae is a whimsical and imaginative tale about friendship, resilience, and the power of protecting what matters most.

Ms. April cherishes the beauty of her rural home: its fields, forests, ponds, and hills. When land development begins to displace local wildlife, she opens her heart and her land to the animals who have nowhere else to go. With the help of her clever and loyal friend, Ms. Mae the fox, she creates a sanctuary where creatures can live in peace.

But when Ms. April falls ill and greedy developers try to take over her land, it's up to Ms. Mae to defend their home. With courage and cunning, the fox steps in to outsmart their adversaries and protect the haven they’ve built together.

In this book, Karen Dugan asks: "What would an intelligent animal do if her relatives and their homes were threatened? As human beings, we’d call the police, go to court, or fight a war. But in these pages, I suggest another way. I am talking about the possibility of civility to all, of walking as gently as possible upon this earth."

A beautifully illustrated story that gently introduces young readers to themes of environmental stewardship, community, and standing up for those who cannot stand up for themselves.

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Indiepubs
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  • Wildlife, Conservation, Environment

  • 40 Pages

  • Hardcover

  • 8-12 Years

  • 3rd Grade - 6th Grade

  • 094071907X

  • 9780940719071

A cartoon illustration of a woman with glasses and red hair talking to a fox sitting on a stone wall outdoors, with green trees and a house in the background.
A collage of various animals, people, and animated characters in a horizontal strip.
A cartoon fox standing on two legs, holding a coffee mug, with a small steam cloud rising from the mug.

Awards & Honors

Finalist for Foreward Magazine’s 2009 INDIEFAB Book of the Year Award in the Children’s Picture Book Category

A cartoon fox standing on its hind legs with its head tilted back and mouth open, appearing to smile.
A strip of various animal and human face illustrations and photographs.

Reviews

  • Nancy Gibson (Cofounder of the International Wolf Center, Author of "Wolves")

    "This is just the book Mother Nature would order. The author clearly understands the role that our children will play in the future health of our planet. I invite the reader to apply Ms. Mae’s persistence and wit to saving some elbow room for all kinds of wildlife and habitats.”

Illustration of a countryside scene with a house, pond, forest, and hill on the left, and a girl with a dog in a field, a woman with a fox inside a cozy room on the right.
Illustration of Ms. April lying on the ground under a tree, surrounded by falling birdhouses and birds. Another illustration shows Ms. Mae in bed with a variety of animals and a fox in the room. A third illustration depicts a sunset over a woodland p
Illustration of a cluttered attic with foxes surrounded by boxes and clothing, two foxes looking into a dusty mirror, one with a floral hat, with text about Ms. Mae sneezing and her thoughts on how people listen.
Illustration of three workers cutting down tall pine trees while Ms. Mae the fox is in the trees. The workers are on the ground, talking about not being able to cut down the forest if Ms. April is up there, so they leave the forest alone.
Illustration of three men sitting on a sofa, each holding a cup of tea and snacks. They are talking and have thought bubbles above their heads with images of children flying kites, climbing trees, and building dams, representing their childhood activ
Illustration of animals gathering at night in a forest, including a fox and a bear, with Ms. Mae and Ms. April sleeping in a bedroom with a fox on the bed, and a full moon visible through the window.
Colorful, whimsical illustration of Mr. April Park, a large park with diverse areas: children and adults enjoying swimming, playing, flying kites, picking flowers, observing animals, and reading near a library. The park includes a pond, a bear, a hor