In its first two lines of enchanting rhyme, Chasing Wonderinvites the reader into the oceans and seas of our imagination.Deep and wide as the very vastest seaInside a place called CuriosityThen tells us how to get there…Close your eyes and open your mindWho knows what could be there to findWhat the adventure is about…This is a story about making choicesTo deny or follow our inner voicesAnd why making this journey is important…But most of all it''s about discoveryWhy you''re you, and you''re not meIt''s a story about wisdom tooAnd how we''re shaped by what we doAnd Wonder is the reason for this rhymeSo, just let yourself wonder all the timeChasing Wonder is dual-track literature that engages adults and young adults with multilayered rhyming and luscious wordplay, and delights children with a worthy plot and an assortment of entertaining allegorical characters. Among these are: Esteemed Lobster, known for his ego quite superior, just because of his posterior; Coral Larry, the genius brain coral; and Squid Pro Quo, the transactional giant squid.Two key characters who appear from time to time are Sarah and Dipidee…"Here and there to do some goodAnd we''d do more, if we couldBut it''s all by chance; we never knowWe can''t be everywhere you might go!"The reader also meets two empty-headed parrot fish named Yada Yada and Blah Blah Blah; the wise turtle, Twain; the snitch, Rattail Ronnie; the State Fish of Hawaii, Humuhumunukunukuapua''a; and NepTune…There''s NepTune the rapper, the coolest aqua-man Who raps saltwater rhyme like no other canThe ocean sways to NepTune''s rhythmPlants and creatures are in tune with himAnd as he glides from side to sideHe sways the ocean''s rising tideAnd inspires his fans to wildly waveSo surfers get the waves they craveThe protagonist is Wonder, a young oyster banished from the oyster bed for reasons the reader is challenged to evaluate; and the antagonist is evil Vidi (from Julius Caesar''s Veni, Vidi, Vici), a hideous sawfish…Vidi is wickedness to the coreThe most sinister fish in ocean loreHis absolute favorite thing to doIs devour the goodness inside of youAnd oysters, he thinks, are the most deliciousThe favorite of all his dinner dishesThere is much to find in Chasing Wonder, additional captivating characters, and foundation ideals and values for life…Truth is always most essentialBeauty makes you reverentialGoodness leaves you feeling greatJustice for all must never waitEquality belongs to everyoneFreedom''s quest is never doneChasing Wonder is an adventure for everyone, because…If we dare, wonder takes us everywhere!
