Patty: A Sasquatch Story
By Dana Goolsby
East Texas- Several weeks ago I received an email from a fellow East Texan who has written a children’s book on one of my favorite subjects- BIGFOOT! Michael Mayes, author and board member of the North American Wood Ape Conservancy, sent me a copy of Patty: A Sasquatch Story, however, the book was intercepted by my 10-year-old son first who read the book and gave it a rave review. I couldn’t wait to read it for myself.
Mayes grew up in Deep East Texas listening to tales of the Wildman in the Big Thicket. As a young boy he saw footage of the Patterson-Gilman film at a theatre in San Augustine and was immediately hooked. Since then, Mayes has spent countless hours searching for the legendary creature and educating others on the subject of sasquatch. Mayes’s children’s book is another avenue in which he is able to extend his knowledge and love of Bigfoot to others.
Mayes is also the author of the Texas Cryptid Hunter blog. You can view more of his work surround Texas cryptids at texascryptidhunter.
Patty: A Sasquatch Story is a delightful children’s story that draws from the infamous tale of the Patterson Film, shot in 1967. The story also teaches young readers more about the history of sasquatch, and even offers more information in the Appendix at the end of the book called the “Sasquatch Insider.” But the tale runs much deeper than the history of sasquatch. The book also broaches the subject of losing a parent, bullying, learning that true beauty comes from within, and unconditional love. The book is a great coming of age story.
Patty was a young, grief stricken Sasquatch who lost her mother. No one knew where Patty’s mother had disappeared to, but some suspected that the cowboy may have taken her. The cowboy in this story represents Patterson who often roamed the hills near Bluff Creek searching for signs sasquatch.
Patty’s father was the biggest and strongest sasquatch of all, but since her mother’s disappearance he had also been absent quite a lot as he searched for his lost mate. Patty was also facing a bully named Jacko in her camp that made matters worse. Patty was different from all the other Sasquatches at her camp. None of the other sasquatches would play with Patty because she had small feet, and they taunted her regularly.She had exceptionally small feet for a Bigfoot, and big feet are very important to a Sasquatch. The book details how sasquatches use their big feet to stomp loudly in order to communicate with other sasquatches. Since Patty had such small feet this was not an option for her, so she would take a stick and knock it against a tree in order to communicate. However, every time Patty employed this method of communication the cowboy showed up.
Patty began to feel as if she were an embarrassment to her father and that she was also endangering her tribe. She decided to run away one night and live alone in the forest. A whole winter came and went while Patty braved the forest alone. She spent a lot of time on the move trying to avoid the cowboy who seemed to be following her.
The turning point in the story is when Patty meets a wise old owl in the forest. Patty told him her troubles and he tried to explain that beauty isn’t defined by how you look or how big your feet are. Patty was unconvinced, so the next day the owl took her to a near by stream where he told her to look into the water. Staring back at Patty was a beautiful sasquatch. Patty first thought the sasquatch was her mother, but the owl explained that the image was her own reflection and that she had grown up since she left her tribe. The owl then showed her the extremely large footprints in the sand that belonged to her!
Suddenly, the pair heard the snort of a horse and looked up to see the cowboy! Patty told the owl to fly away because she knew what to do. Her father had taught her what to do if she ever saw a human. Patty stood tall, as her height now reached more than seven feet and stared at the cowboys and their horses. The horses were frightened and refused to go closer to her. Patty walked quickly but did not panic. The cowboy jumped off of his horse and began to film Patty as she walked off. Patty turned to him and gave him a mean look that she borrowed from her childhood bully, Jacko. It worked!
Patty decided to go home to her tribe. She walked for a very long time until she began to recognize her tribe’s home territory. She was met with open arms by her father as all of the other sasquatches came out to see who the big beautiful sasquatch was.
Mayes provides a creative back story with a strong lesson for children. Robert Swain’s artwork beautifully enhances the story. Patty is a great story that is capable of lending its lessons to everyone!
My ten-year-old son really enjoyed this book and the life lessons it taught. Being a Bigfoot enthusiast himself, he also really enjoyed the fact that the book contained so much squatchy information. He enjoyed all of the historical aspects, and he really loved that the story centered around the Patterson film. He gives Patty: A Sasquatch Story two thumbs up!
Mayes will happily send you an autographed copy of Patty: A Sasquatch Story. Simply email him at [email protected].
Patty, A Saquatch Story can be purchased at almost all online retailers such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million…etc. The book can also be purchased in both electronic formats for Kindle and Nook, etc.
Purchase your copy of Patty: A Sasquatch Story today! AMAZON
A special thanks to Michael Mayes for sending me a copy of his book! It will go on my shelf with other works of art from East Texas artists! Support East Texas Artists!