Tail of a Squirrel and Other Tales

About the Book

The title of Sheila Cardano’s book “Tail of a Squirrel and other Tales”, alludes to the first story about a rather conceited squirrel called Spencer, who had a rapid rise to fame and an even swifter fall to shame! He learned his lesson, however, due to the intervention of a wise owl, Willowby, who fixed his injury by means of weird concoctions.

All the stories are full of action and color, they are peopled by various imaginary beings — animals, children, elves, fairies and personified trees! They seem to be created for animated cartoons.

Many of these tales have been dramatized by the author who is also a playwright, and performed by children in theatres, schools and churches. Noah’s Ark was a great success, about eighty children played parts. “The Ears of Flop,” “The Naughty Elf have all had their taste of stardom delighting children both performers and audience. “Legend of a Tree” with its moments of pathos has been mimed with dance, narrator and music.

“Rosaleen” is the core of a full length fantasy play called “Magia” (magic) which was the first production of the Arts Enter Cape Charles at the Historic Palace Theatre on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. It was a clamorous success. The author is considering a similar transformation of “Peggoty Jane”. Children love to become talking animals, princes and princesses, fairies and even animated clouds. The book is fully illustrated in brightly colored child like pictures designed for the joy and understanding of little ones of all ages everywhere.

About the Author

Sheila Cardano was born in London, England of Irish parents. She composed poems from early childhood. After graduating from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, she entered into the world of theatre and played many parts in the big cities of England including an exciting period in the West End of London where she played “Charlotte” in “The Brontes”. A promising stage career ended when she married an Italian scientist and settled in Italy.

Sheila has written a book “Patrick” in memory of the son killed in a car accident in 1979. This tragedy redimensioned her life and that of her husband. They needed to be near their two daughters married to Americans. In 1989 they moved to the United States. Surrounded by grandchildren, Sheila’s writing of poetry, stories, plays has become much more prolific.

In 1996, a center for the performing and visual arts was formed in Cape Charles on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. Sheila Cardano was a co-founder of Arts Enter Cape Charles promoting drama, art, music and dance in this rural area. With the acquisition of the Historic Palace Theatre, she became the Artistic Director and Playwright of the rapidly growing non profit organization. Over a dozen of her original plays have premiered with success, she continues to direct and teach the art of acting as well as writing poetry and plays. Another book was published in 2000 “Plays for all Seasons and all Ages”. The text of the first four plays is featured together with the story of how it all began. Her poetry has been published for many years in “Poets Domain” and anthologies.