Leland's Wild Adventures: A Grandfather-Grandson Podcast

Join us as we embark on a delightful journey through the enchanting world of Kaboose, the Rocky Mountain Bear, inspired by our family's cherished adventures in the breathtaking Rocky Mountains of Alberta, Canada.

This conversation features our oldest grandson, Leland, who has played a pivotal role in shaping our children's book series, contributing his unique insights and ideas.

Together, we reminisce about our shared experiences, from the magic of Canmore to the thrill of skiing at Lake Louise, and explore how these memories have become the foundation for captivating stories.

Leland shares his thoughts on the beauty of nature and his special bond with his cousin, Kyra, as they engage in countless adventures. With heartfelt reflections and vivid recollections, this episode showcases the joy of storytelling and the legacy of family connections woven into each tale.

Creating a Storyteller's Writing Canvas

I hope you will enjoy this podcast with my oldest grandson, Leland.

Sharing my grandkids' involvement in helping to write and narrate children's books shows readers and authors how fertile and creative our children or grandchildren can be.

These stories are very visual, and we use them as a guide to share with our illustrator to create incredible drawings as part of our children's picture books.

Sitting down and interviewing your children or grandchildren captures a moment in time and a time capsule treasure you can unearth through the years.

I love Leland's perspective on his time in the Canadian Rocky Mountains; he never considered his time there as a way to become a storyteller or narrator.

Interviewing Leland gives you, as a children's book reader or author, some insight from someone closer to the age of the children for whom our books are written.

I am fortunate to live in the same city as Leland and hang out with him often.

The neat thing about interviewing Leland as a children's book author and narrator is that I have known my grandson all of his life, and today's interview revealed some fun insights I had never heard from him before. Leland perceived things a little differently than what I thought he was thinking.

I am always amazed by the small details he remembers and how small things stick with him, even after several years.

Leland is narrating several of our children's Stories and will participate in Storyteller's Reading Circle Level on our website, kaboosetherockymountainbear.com.

Leland references many memories, including the Lunch Bucket Man. The Lunch Bucket Man is a statue dedicated to the coal miners whose blood, sweat, and tears helped establish the town of Canmore.

Canmore was a coal mining town, and the industry shut down in 1979. To pay homage to its history, Canmore erected a coal miner statue.

I also thought of the lunch bucket man as the coal miner, but the lunch bucket that the coal miner carried stuck with Leland.

The town of Canmore, which we reference in the podcast, inspired the setting of our birthplace of Kaboose, the town of Big Head.

As a children's book reader or author, you can see how preconceptions can lead you down a different writing path. These perceived differences can lay the foundation for all kinds of fun-filled stories.

The next time you get a chance with your child or grandchild, talk to them about something you did together and get their observations on this event; there are childhood treasures in those moments, so take time to unlock them.

Enjoy my conversations with Leland and his many times in Canmore, Banff, and the Bow Valley.

I engage in a captivating dialogue with their grandson, Leland, exploring the rich tapestry of memories woven through their adventures in the Rocky Mountains.

The episode emphasizes the collaborative spirit of creating their book series, The Adventures of Kaboose the Rocky Mountain Bear, where Leland's youthful insights bring a refreshing touch to the stories.

We share anecdotes highlighting the importance of their creative process, showcasing how Leland's ideas have influenced narratives aimed at young readers.

Our discussions invite listeners into the heart of the creative journey, where imagination meets real-life experiences.

Throughout the conversation, Leland recalls his first experiences in Canmore and the sensory memories associated with those trips—the sounds, smells, and sights rushing back with every mention of the Rockies.

This episode encapsulates the essence of family life, emphasizing how shared experiences can evolve into cherished stories that bridge generations.

As we reminisce about skiing trips, hikes along the Bow River, and family outings to local festivals, the listeners are reminded of the simple joys of life and the imp...