NEWS: Northwest Trek Moose Stars in Children’s Book
Seattle, Wash. (December 2, 2025) — The awesome first moose of Northwest Trek Wildlife Park stars in a new children’s picture book, “A Home for Chocolate: Based on the True Story of an Orphan Moose.”
The author—who knew the animal personally—is Connie Anne Hellyer, a Seattle resident who grew up in Lakewood, Wash.
Erin Hourigan of Portland, Ore. created full-color illustrations for the heart-warming narrative.
“A Home for Chocolate” tells of the moose’s forest birth in Canada, early life in a rescue center, and rediscovery of moose ways in a new American park: Northwest Trek Wildlife Park.
Northwest Trek, located near Eatonville, Wash., is America’s only public park devoted to the wildlife of this region. Part of the Tacoma Parks family, the 725-acre animal refuge celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.
The author is a daughter of the Park’s original donors, Dr. David Hellyer and his wife Connie.
Remembered at Northwest Trek as “Doc,” David was pediatrician (1948-1973) to generations of Tacoma children and a founder of Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital. His wife Connie helped bring Seattle Symphony performances to Tacoma and was one of the Park’s first docents.
The couple was living on the property when the Park’s first moose arrived. Their encounters with the willful bull are part of the story.
Connie Anne (who is named after her mother) recalls: “Chocolate was a formidable presence. Our family and guests had to edge past him as we went in and out of the driveway gate. That moose really wanted to get in!”
Christy Cox, the book’s editor, says: “Chocolate’s story celebrates resilience and shows that loss and change, though difficult, may lead to a happy ending.”
The narrative nonfiction book, which is intended for children from 3 to 12, also includes Fun Facts and other educational material.
“Most children today live in artificial environments,” observes Gordon Orians, University of Washington biology professor emeritus. “Chocolate’s true-life story will open a window to the natural world and the fascinating creatures that help sustain it.”
Scientific advisors for the book include Prof. Orians; R. Terry Bowyer, professor emeritus, University of Alaska-Fairbanks; Jeremy C. (Jerry) Haigh, professor emeritus, University of Saskatchewan; Northwest Trek Wildlife Park curator, Marc Heinzman; and Calgary Zoo curator (retired), Robert Peel.
“A Home for Chocolate” has just been released by Fir Bough Press. It is available in all formats—e-book, paperback, and hardcover—from leading online booksellers.
The author is honoring her parents and their legacy by donating all her proceeds from the book to the Northwest Trek Foundation—the nonprofit organization supporting the conservation, education, and recreation mission of the public park.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Connie Anne Hellyer (aka Constance Hellyer) is a magazine writer and editor, specializing in nonfiction. She grew up in Lakewood, Wash. (Clover Park High School ’55), graduated from Mills College (’59) in Oakland, Calif., and worked in Cambridge, Mass. (grader, Harvard Business School), New York City (editorial assistant, Newsweek, American Heritage books, and various authors), and Palo Alto, Calif. (most recently as Stanford Law School’s Communications Director and writer/editor of its alumni magazine).
Now retired and in her 80s, she has settled in Seattle near her children and grandchildren at Horizon House, where she co-authored the community’s 50th anniversary commemorative book.
Connie Anne is currently a member of the Northwest Science Writers Association, Pacific Northwest Writers Association, Phi Beta Kappa (Puget Sound chapter), and Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).
ABOUT THE NORTHWEST TREK FOUNDATION
The Northwest Trek Foundation is a Washington State registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which promotes conservation, education and recreation to a regional and national community through the unique display of Pacific Northwest native wildlife in their natural habitats at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park in Eatonville, Washington.
ABOUT THE BOOK
An indie-trade hybrid, “A Home for Chocolate” was largely developed (edited, fact-checked, illustrated and designed) under contract (May 2023—) with Sasquatch Books. Dropped by that publisher as part of its August 2024 ownership change, the book was completed by Sasquatch alumni — including Christy Cox (editor, Wander, Claude, Springer, etc.)— to Sasquatch standards.
The current publisher of record is Fir Bough Press, an independent Pacific Northwest publishing house.
The book is available for purchase from major online book retailers.
Bookstores may obtain the book wholesale from IngramSpark.
ISBN-979-8-9916103-2-2 (hardcover)
ISNB 979-8-9916103-3-9 (paperback)
MORE INFORMATION
Facebook — AHomeForChocolate
Media contact: Fir Bough Press, firboughpress@gmail.com
Connie Anne Hellyer, author, C.hellyer@icloud.com; 206-348-6531
Amie Harris, Northwest Trek Foundation, info@nwtrekfoundation.org
Upcoming Event: Book Signing at Northwest Trek
The author will be doing a live book signing of A Home for Chocolate at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park - the real-life home of Chocolate Moose!
The event will take place Labor Day weekend 2025 in the park giftshop — stay tuned for date and time!
Open to the public (with park admission).
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Bronze sculpture of an adult male moose at the entrance to Northwest Trek Wildlife Park.
A Home for Chocolate eBook now available for purchase
The book A Home for Chocolate is now available for purchase in eBook (Kindle) format.
This release coincides with the 50th anniversary of Northwest Trek Wildlife Park (founded in 1975).
Northwest Trek celebrates 50th anniversary
July 19-20 was a happy birthday celebration for humans and animals at the park which first opened in 1975. This haystack cake was a treat for the bison in the free-roaming area.
Bison adults and babies enjoy a 50th birthday “cake”. (Image credit: Keeper Deanna / Northwest Trek)