About "Young Mole"
Young Mole
Young Mole is always ready for an adventure! He digs tunnels, meets new friends, and learns important lessons along the way.
With the help of his family, wise elders, and the wonderful creatures he meets, Mole discovers that kindness and sharing make the world a better place. Even when he makes mistakes, he learns and grows—just like you!
As Mole gets bigger, he starts solving problems on his own. He listens to good advice, finds clever ways to face challenges, and begins to explore the world beyond his cozy burrow.
Mole also learns the power of teamwork! He figures out how to share, take turns, and work with others—whether it's a fun game, a tricky puzzle, or a big adventure. He faces his fears, tries new things, and finds joy in learning from others.
With a heart full of courage and a mind full of curiosity, Mole's journey is an exciting tale of friendship, discovery, and growing up. Every day is a new adventure, and the best part? He's just getting started!
Young Mole is available on Amazon in both print and Kindle formats.
Books in the Mole Saga
Coming Soon
Coming Soon
Coming Soon
About the Author
C.J. Tripp
Author
C.J. Tripp was born in New York and lived also in Oklahoma, Colorado, Wyoming and New Mexico while growing up. As an adult, C.J. lived in 5 other states as well (Michigan, Texas, South Dakota, Utah and Arizona) and returned several times to live in Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming.
In total, he has traveled to 40 of the 50 United States.
Tripp's foreign travel experiences include many visits to Canada and Mexico and extensive travels to Central and South America, Europe, Turkey, and Eurasia. C.J. lived for extended time periods in both Argentina and Azerbaijan.
Tripp indicated, "I like to think the fact that I've traveled to, lived in and visited a diverse variety of places and have experienced many cultures is reflected metaphorically in my writing. I try to mix my cultural exposures with my formal academic and college teaching experiences in fields such as philosophy, political science, anthropology and psychology in whatever I write."
Tripp's formal education at universities in Michigan, Colorado and Wyoming includes a B.A. degree, two M.S. degrees and a PhD degree. C.J. taught at the college and university level for more than 3 decades at several institutions of higher education.
Tripp's other work experiences involved sales, mental health counseling, cadastral (land) surveying for the U.S. Department of Interior, owning and operating a small brick-and-mortar business, writing for newspapers and magazines, welfare casework, and door-to-door opinion surveying.
Tripp is married and has two adult children.
About the Illustrator
Sara A. Hamblin
Illustrator
Sara was born in Azerbaijan and moved to the USA in 2016, where she embraced a new culture and discovered a love for graphic design.
During the day, she works as a software engineer, and in her free time, she enjoys illustrating. Her multicultural background fuels her imagination and has helped her bring mole stories to life in a unique and meaningful way.
Readers Become Writers / Feedback?
Do you have feedback, a story, a poem, or creative work inspired by the Mole Saga?
We welcome your thoughts, ideas, and creations! Just send us an email and we may feature your submission on our website (with your permission).
What Readers Are Saying
"A Thoughtful Journey of Growth and Wisdom. Young Mole is a beautifully crafted story that takes readers on a journey of self-discovery and personal growth. Through Mole's adventures, the book touches on important life lessons, making it both enjoyable and meaningful for readers of all ages. Chapter 9, 'Choices,' particularly stood out to me as a powerful exploration of balance, communication, and fairness."
"This book became my favorite. Sometimes I open it and read the parts I've underlined over and over again, and look at the sweet illustrations. The stories give courage and uplift the soul. I strongly recommend reading this book 😊👍🏻"
"A childhood classic in the making! Young Mole is a sweet story about woodland creatures whose adventures feel surprisingly close to real life. Mole stumbles, learns, and grows in ways kids and parents will recognize. The writing is warm and the illustrations are beautiful, but what I especially liked were the little pauses between chapters where Mole reflects."
"My six-year-old really loves Young Mole! He can't get enough of the bright, fun illustrations. The stories are simple, charming and playful. And even though some lessons are for older kids, they make him curious and we talk a lot about them. One chapter we both loved and lines from it we talked about were especially useful for him. Mole's mother told him, '… whether real or imaginary, I do think we are all responsible for creating our own feelings, whatever they may be.' Mole responded, 'Then only I can make myself feel happy or sad, and no one else can do that for me.'"
"One of my new favorite children's books! Such a cute and fun book to read with my kids! The pictures are adorable and the lessons he learns along the way are so cute and spot on. I would highly recommend this book to anyone with kiddos."
"Such a beautifully written book! One of my favorites! I really loved reading Young Mole with my family. The story is simple and fun for kids, but it carries such beautiful lessons that touched me too. The illustrations bring Mole's world to life. Definitely recommend this one—it's a book we'll come back to again and again."
Frequently Asked Questions
What age group is Young Mole suitable for?
+Young Mole is perfect for children ages 8-12, but readers of all ages can enjoy it! The story teaches valuable life lessons through Mole's adventures, making it a wonderful read-aloud book for families and a great independent read for older children.
Where can I purchase Young Mole?
+Young Mole is available on Amazon in both print and Kindle formats. You can find direct purchase links on our website, or search for "Young Mole C.J. Tripp" on Amazon.
What makes this book special for children?
+Young Mole combines engaging storytelling with beautiful illustrations and meaningful life lessons. Each chapter teaches important values like friendship, courage, sharing, and problem-solving through Mole's relatable adventures. The book encourages children to reflect on their own experiences and choices.
When will the next books in the series be available?
+The next books in the Mole Saga series are currently in development. "Just Mole," "Restless Moles," and "Elder Moles" will be coming soon. Follow us for updates on release dates and new adventures with Mole and his friends!
I read a chapter of "Young Mole" and haven't gotten back to it for a long time. Is that normal?
+I don't see how you could lose interest in continuing to read "Young Mole." After one chapter of Mole's tunnel adventures involving talking worms and snails, other weird or genius characters, and life lessons, I would think you'd want to find out more. And remember, best of all, the chapters are short. As you might have noticed, Mole's always waiting for you on the next page or in the next chapter. Pebble take-away and other games are there waiting for you. Tricky worms and selfish moles are plotting there also. And, interesting ideas pop out at you and are there for sharing. So, the best option clearly would be to pick up the book and finish enjoying Mole's exciting adventures. It won't be Mole's fault if he leaves you behind because "you didn't complete the read."
Someone said that "Young Mole" is for grandparents to read to kids because it's too complicated for children to read by themselves. Is that true?
+Too complicated? I don't think so. Don't sell young readers short. And remember, the kids in question here could be 8-12 years old and even older. If a child can enjoy watching cartoons, building things out of legos, playing with various kinds of self-propelled toys, playing with a puppy, or even squeezing plush toys, she or he will have no problem following young Mole. The book's illustrations are bright, action packed, and colorful. The writing is fun. Too, the antics of many of its characters are funny, mischievous, and just plain exciting at times. Sure, someone can read the book aloud to kids. It's great to share it that way. But they can enjoy it all on their own as well.
If people are reading fewer books today, how can illustration help spark their curiosity again? Can visuals draw them back into stories in a way that words alone no longer do?
+People say no one reads books anymore, but that's only half true. Sure, it's easier to binge 30 TikToks than read 30 pages, and scrolling feels like the new bedtime story. Attention spans have been traded for algorithms, and patience is harder to find than a bookstore. But here's the hopeful part: stories never actually went out of style. Humans crave them — whether they come in novels, comics, or even illustrations on a screen. If we can repackage that magic in ways that grab attention again, books might just feel fresh instead of forgotten.
Can you walk us through your illustration process, from the first idea to the final piece?
+Before I even start drawing, I imagine the tunnel and all the moles living in it. Funny thing is, now whenever I see a random hole in the ground, I start looking around for real moles. It's become a habit, haha. Then I grab my iPad, sketch the scene loosely, and slowly add details layer by layer. My goal is always to make the illustrations bright, colorful, and full of life. And of course, I want the moles to look as fluffy and adorable as possible, like little characters you'd want to hug.