Every living creature needs water to survive, but it was just the beginning of the hot summer and there hasn't been any rain in a very long time. Lake Kutoa is the largest lake in the territory that provides enough water for the abundance of wildlife that lives in the region, and the large numbers of animals that depend on the lake have already placed a high demand on its resources.
King Taou, the alpha lion and the baboon leader, T'Mbuko, have asked the elephant matriarch, K'Tira to take a journey to find the valuable water that is needed during the hot, summer drought. But, there are many dangers along the journey, as poachers' traps and predators that could cause her harm; however, she is a Dhahabu Tembo, or Golden elephant, and has a special adaptation that allows her to collect the valuable water that is needed for their survival.
Walk for Gold is not about digging for treasure, it is about finding the very thing that is needed for survival, and in this case, water that is the very resource needed for all the plants and animals to live. It is considered to be more valuable than gold, and that is why it is called Walk for Gold. The story is more than just a journey to find water; however, it depicts the special relationships of family and friendships. It is a loving bond between a mother and son; it is the special relationship between a mother and daughter, and it shows the sacrifices a mother will take to protect her children and loved ones.
Taking place in Africa, the book introduces interesting animals as the gelada baboon, meerkats, dung beetles, and wildebeest. The story explains how habitat loss and climate change have created more difficulties for wildlife, and the animals have to work together to make sure they have the much-needed water they need to live. Hopefully, the message received from reading the book will be an understanding that we need to take care of each other and also take care of our planet.
The cute characters with their witty dialogue will have you laughing; and their tender, endearing moments will make you want to cry. If you love animals and nature, you will love reading, The Walk for Gold.
Lubbers, G.: - Gretchen Lubbers is a native of Louisville, Kentucky, and has always had a passion for both art and nature. She studied fine art and zoology in college, with an emphasis on art studio. She took a creative writing course as an elective and has had several poems published in collegiate publications, including a poem published in the Library of Congress titled, "Night of Tribulation." While working as a graphic designer, her advertisements were recognized from trade publications for Advertising Excellence and Readers' Choice awards. However, she has always been passionate about the visual arts and explored various mediums from watercolor painting, photography, clay sculpting and even glass sculpting; but it is pencil illustration that she continues to gravitate to as a favorite, because the effect that one single line can create movement and expression. A creative spark was ignited inside her by her grandson, and she wanted to use her talents to give him something special for a keepsake. She combined her love of illustration and writing and began writing children's books. The characters and stories she writes about portray her love for both art and nature and are meant to inspire young readers to explore the beautiful animals and places that make up our wonderful planet, with hope that they will be the next generation to make positive changes for their future.
