I can’t wait to read Chris Lockwood’s new children’s book to my young granddaughters. Titled The Tennis Ball Trees, and published by Maine Authors Publishing, Chris’s book features a Labrador retriever that loves tennis balls.
Whenever there was an adult nearby, the lab, named Fannie, would run over and drop a tennis ball, expecting the adult to pick it up and toss it. Fannie can even find her tennis balls buried under the snow.
But the best part of the story comes when dad digs up holes in his yard to plant bushes. Fannie manages to bury a tennis ball in each hole, and after the bushes grew tall, tennis balls grew on the branches!
Along with the story, the illustrations by Kathleen Fox will be something your kids and grandkids will really enjoy. I’m sure Chris’s eleven grandchildren are enjoying their grampy’s new book. And I wouldn’t be surprised if they plant some bushes, with a tennis ball buried with each bush.
Chris Lockwood was executive director of the Maine Municipal Association from 1979 to 2015. He lives in Hallowell and last year published a book, Why the Cane? I reviewed that book in which Chris shares his struggle after being hit by car. Chris was standing behind his van when a speeding car hit him, severing his left leg. His recovery took many years and he shared that experience in his book, also published by Maine Authors Publishing. It’s an important book for all who struggle with health problems
Now, I can’t wait for Chris’s next book!