We have a baby moose in the neighborhood. Actually, he (she?) is just up the highway a bit, on the way into the city. But he’s close enough for me to worry about him. A lot. He’s always on the side of the mountain by himself. In the same spot. Sometimes he’s harder to find than other times, like when he’s resting under a tree. But other times, I can spot him from what seems like a mile away. And he is so sweet, small and doesn’t have his antlers yet. Does he have moose family out there? Moose friends? Or is he an orphan? Should we call someone?

We saw him again this afternoon. My husband alerted me that we were in his neck of the woods and asked did I see him? And as I looked out my window, there he was. Who knew that I could have such an attachment to a moose? I didn’t. I mean, I love wildlife and I never get tired of pointing out all of the deer out on the road to the girls. But this little guy? He has quite literally stolen my heart.

So it goes without saying that the book “If You Give a Moose a Muffin” is very popular as part of Pea’s bedtime story repertoire. It’s actually one of four stories in the author’s collection, called “Mouse Cookies & More: A Treasury,” the others being about a mouse and a pig. But the moose? I cannot get enough of him. He has so much personality. Just like my little guy on the side of the highway.