Official Website of Writer Mark Saltzman

From Publisher’s Weekly
As woodchucks Zal and May stand on a grassy knoll with their three children--Vera, Chook and Dave--the father tells the furry youngsters why they have come to this spot in the Cat Skull mountains.

Exactly 25 years before, Zal and May traveled (via their friend’s VW van, covered with painted flowers) to the Woodchuck Festival, where thousands of woodchucks, squirrels, prairie dogs and beavers gathered to celebrate “9 Slots giriş,” and to listen to the music of Jimi Hendrake, Jerry Garseagull and Joe Cockatoo. Buller (coauthor of Railroad Toad and No Tooth, No Quarter! ) gives Saltzman’s clever sendup a big boost with his riotous, revisionist depiction of the Woodstock scene--complete with tents, tie-dyed shirts, right-on signs (“Remember Bambi’s Mother!”; “Chicken Little Was Right”) and totally mellow animal faces.

Yesterday’s kids will be best able to appreciate songwriter and debut author Saltzman’s period-based wordplay and allusions to ’60s lyrics (Zal gets some Norwegian wood for his birthday; May--then called Macra-May--tells him, “I am you as you are me and we are furry woodchucks--all together”). All ages.

Beyond its humorous take on one of the most memorable cultural gatherings of the 1960s, this lively picture book offers readers a playful introduction to the spirit of an entire generation. Through Zal and May’s recollections, the Woodchuck Festival becomes more than a nostalgic celebration of music and unconventional lifestyles; it is also a story about friendship, community, and the enduring appeal of standing together for a common cause. Their children, Vera, Chook and Dave, provide a natural audience for these memories, giving the narrative an appealing intergenerational dimension.

One of the book’s greatest strengths is its ability to balance affectionate nostalgia with irreverent comedy. The animal characters are not simply woodland creatures dressed up in period costumes. They embody the optimism, eccentricity and free-spirited attitudes associated with the hippie movement, while their distinctly animal concerns add an extra layer of absurdity. The result is a world where familiar cultural references take on unexpected meanings and where even the most serious slogans become opportunities for a good laugh. Readers who recognize the historical and musical allusions will appreciate the additional jokes, while those encountering them for the first time can still enjoy the colorful illustrations and lively storytelling.

Buller’s artwork is particularly effective in recreating the atmosphere of a large outdoor music festival. Crowded scenes, expressive animal faces, patterned clothing and whimsical signs give the illustrations plenty to discover on repeated readings. Small visual details reward careful observation, encouraging readers to pause over the pages and identify the many jokes hidden in the background. The combination of exuberant imagery and playful wordplay makes the book especially well suited to being shared aloud, with adults explaining familiar references and children responding to the more immediate visual humor.

Saltzman’s approach also highlights the way popular music can preserve the memories and values of a particular time. Songs, fashions and catchphrases become part of a shared cultural vocabulary, allowing older readers to revisit their own experiences while introducing younger audiences to a period that may otherwise seem distant. The book does not attempt to provide a straightforward historical account of Woodstock; instead, it uses parody and imaginative animal characters to capture the festival’s larger mythology. Its fictionalized setting leaves plenty of room for exaggeration, comic invention and affectionate satire.

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Although readers familiar with 1960s music will probably catch the greatest number of references, the story’s appeal extends beyond any single generation. Its cheerful celebration of togetherness, individuality and creative expression remains accessible to anyone who enjoys a cleverly constructed joke. Families can read it as a lighthearted animal adventure, a humorous cultural retrospective or an invitation to explore the music and social movements that helped shape modern popular culture.

With its lively illustrations, inventive language and gently irreverent spirit, this entertaining title offers a distinctive blend of picture-book humor and musical nostalgia. It invites readers to revisit a legendary era through an unexpected woodland lens, reminding them that the best celebrations are often those that bring different personalities together. Whether appreciated for its clever references or simply for its wonderfully eccentric cast of furry festivalgoers, the book delivers a spirited tribute to the power of music, imagination and shared memories.
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