Tales of Spring Valley: 'The Beginning' is book one of a two volume set exploring a ranching lifestyle, now rapidly disappearing from the world. The book introduces the four animal friends: Pierre the 'boss' cat, Roo the amazing cattle dog, Finnegan the kind, gentle pony, and Blackie a bouncy, brave young collie. Young readers will discover the roles each animal plays in the life of the ranch. The animals share their observations in short stories, with full-color illustrations to enhance the text. A full-page map guides readers as they follow the animals around the ranch and the valley. The main character Pierre the 'boss' cat, shares six stories; the other three animals each have one story to tell. Quiet, gentle humor, adventure and traditional values are the framework for this collection.