From Fierce Beast to Town Mascot, Author transforms lumberjack lore into child friendly fable.

USA (SANEPR.com) May 20, 2008 -- This beast made its first appearance in the Northwoods of Wisconsin in 1896, when Rhinelander pioneer Gene Sheppard snapped a picture of the animal, which turned out to be mechanical. Even after the legend was denounced as a hoax, citizens of the area have branded the hodag myth as a local legend. Today, the town of Rhinelander has made the hodag its unofficial mascot, featuring its tale to any newcomers and current residents.

As a native of Rhinelander, Jill Kuczmarski felt it was important to introduce children to the myth in a digestible way. With her skills in designing and knowledge of the fable, she wrote and illustrated two short stories, Tales From the Trees and A Monster Misunderstanding.

“I always felt that there should be a friendly, cuddly version of the hodag so that children could enjoy this Rhinelander tradition,” says Kuczmarski. “My nieces, who were not being raised in the area, were afraid of the leering beast depictions found all over town.”

Tales From the Trees offers families a rhyming introduction, filled with vivid graphics of Happy the Hodag and Buddy the Bulldog. A Monster Misunderstanding was created to explain how these two animals become great friends, despite their vast differences.

Jill Kuczmarski is a Rhinelander, Wisconsin native currently living in Chicago. She graduated from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design with a degree in graphic design and owns her own design services agency, Kuczmarski Designs, which expanded into book publishing and product development.