Bigfoot: A Weird Canadian Tale: Weird Canadian Tales, #1

By H.M.Richardson

What happens when an odd and strangely civilized Bigfoot creature suddenly turns up in the small prairie village of Derby Town? Plenty of havoc and adventure! Join a clever young lady named Ellen and her friend John as they try to get rid of him – but how? It won't be easy! Find out what happens in this funny romp on the prairies of Alberta!

A humorous picture book for kids based on Canada's mythical creatures, sasquatches in this case.

• Language: English
• Publisher: A Voice Crying Publishers
• Release date: Jun 3, 2024
• ISBN: 9798227525109

Book preview

Bigfoot:

A Weird

Canadian Tale

H.M. Richardson

Illustrated by: Amber Richardson

Bigfoot: A Weird Canadian Tale

Copyright © 2023 by H. M. Richardson

Cover design by Amber Richardson

Copyright © 2023

Find her on Instagram @bim_bam_be_doodle

Edited by Shirley Kufeldt: find her on Facebook and Linked In

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means—electronic, mechanical, photographic (photocopying), recording, or otherwise—without prior permission in writing from the publisher, except where permitted by Canadian copyright law.

This book is a work of fiction.

All characters, organizations, settings, and incidents within are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual people, places, or events is entirely coincidental.

Published by: A Voice Crying Publishing

[e-mail]

Olds, Alberta, Canada

ISBN: 978-1-7778374-4-0

DEDICATION

To all kids but especially Canadian kids!

O

nce upon a time, not too long ago (but a while before cars were popular), a swift river sped merrily through a shallow valley at the forested edge of a bald, endless prairie. It was called the Red Deer River. This river was edged in smooth grey stone, and piles of this created islands and bars in the middle of the water.

​A small town, hacked out of the bush, snuggled against one side. The townsfolk thought it a ‘lovely location’ and called it Derby Town. It was built west of the bridge which crossed the river. The water was clean and good for drinking, the grass grew green, and there were wild berries and plenty of game. Best of all, the western horizon bristled with shining mountain peaks, an inspiring view for miles around. The people of the prosperous town and the outlying farmers had known one another for years and, for human beings, got along fairly well. That is, until BIGFOOT came. Why a bigfoot, you ask? Because this is a story of Canada and Canada has no ogres, trolls, or goblins. At least we don’t think so. The bigfoot is like all of these put together, except hairier. Some of the First Nations have called him ‘sasquatch’. The Haislas of Northern British Columbia called him ‘B’gwus’.

​The bigfoot did not approach the town at first, nor ask anyone living there if he could stay. Which is how such creatures function. They usually flit through an area, trying not to be seen. But this one built a cabin! No one knew they could even do such a thing. And not only did he build a cabin, but he also erected it within a ten-minute’s walk from town. The first the farmers around Derby Town knew of him was when he started to steal cows from the fields. THEN he did something inexcusable, at least in the mind of one young man who lived there, named John Ross. Bigfoot spied on the town, and came to admire the boy’s girlfriend, a pretty young orphan named Ellen.

​After that, Bigfoot openly came to town, always trying to catch another glimpse of Ellen. He unfailingly broke at least one thing in the town, and the townsfolk grew tired of screaming, hiding, and fixing stuff.

​John Ross, said the mayor of the town one day, I don’t know what brought this terrible bigfoot down from the Far North, but the others and I have decided that you should confront this creature and get him to leave.

​Why me? asked John suspiciously.

​"Well... because it was the sight of little Ellen who brought him into our town in the first place, and since you are her closest friend, you are the best choice. After all, she cannot get rid of the monster on her own. Bigfoot would simply carry her away."

​John thought it likely that Bigfoot could carry him away just as easily, but he replied, Oh, very well. If there is no other man here who is brave, I will do what I can. Poor Ellen needs a break from this monster, and it’s my job as her future husband to protect her.

​That’s right, that’s right. I was just about to say that myself, agreed the mayor.

​That’s how it happened that, the next day, John took up a pitchfork in his hands and set out for the bigfoot’s house, all alone and feeling very scared. But he hadn’t gone far