behind the scenes

Most of the earth has already been explored, and so far no one has come across any villages where bears fly gliders near the edge of a giant precipice. (*We’re not saying someone won’t find a place like this … it just seems HIGHLY unlikely.)

Growly’s world is a lot like ours though. There are mountains, forests, rivers, and oceans (and even libraries and warm cups of tea). Everything there is a little wilder, and a LOT more unexplored. But it’s a place that feels familiar—like it almost could exist.

We have been asked quite a few times about the places in our world that inspired the locations in the books. The list is certainly not limited to these …

First steps are scary. They’re often unsure and wobbly and will most likely end in a fall. We start out not worrying about that too much. One moment we’re clutching the edge of the couch, swaying on unsteady legs, looking scared and excited all at the same time. A hand lets go and flails about…