Candles in the Cabin is set on a lake high up in the mountains, where the power goes out ... a lot ... and it frightens a young boy and his sister. The book takes a whimsical look at why lights can go out, what other types of light sources there are, and how to have fun when they do go out.

  Why I Wrote the Book ...

My inspiration for Candles in the Cabin came about after my family and I had spent several hours at our vacation cabin without power one night. My youngest child had a fear of the dark at the time and was very nervous about the fact that we didn't have lights and was equally worried about why the power had gone out, since there was no obvious reason for it, such as a big storm. We spent the better part of the evening talking about power outtages, what causes them, and ended up having a lot of fun making our own entertainment despite not having television, computers, and various gaming systems available.

Over the course of the following week after we had returned home from vacation, my son would talk about what had happened with his friends and I found it interesting that many of them either hadn't ever experienced a power outtage in their young lives or if they had, it was only for a few moments. It struck me that so many children these days have no idea what to do when the power goes out for long periods of time! Impressive as suburban and urban power grids are this century, there are still never-the-less, places and times where the power does go out and this book talks all about why, how to find other sources of light, and fun stuff to do when it happens.

  Fun Facts for Educators and Children ...

"Hamster Einstein" appears 12 times in the book. Can you find him?

Highland Lakes, New Jersey, is the setting for this children's story.

Herons, Eagles, and Bears, oh my! Highland Lakes is home to a wide variety of wildlife. Visits from Great Blue Herons, Black Bears and American Bald Eagles are common.

Flashlights are called torches in England.

Did you know that there is a Flashlight Museum in Minnesota?

Our favorite candles come from The Candle Shop in Sugar Loaf, New York.