A decade ago, a trio of beavers decided to make Washington’s Tidal Basin their home and the capital city’s prized cherry trees their late-night snacks. The National Park Service had to remove the critters.

That real-life story inspired me to write a children’s book called “George Washington Beaver And The Cherry Tree.”

The book combines the factual with the fictional and the historical with the mythical to convey an important message about truth-telling. It’s also designed to encourage children to learn some of the great stories from American history.

The book is chock-full of intriguing characters and Beltway-like references that Washingtonian parents will appreciate, too. There is George Washington Beaver; Teddy Roosevelt Beaver, who talks softly but carries a big stick; J. Edgar Beaver, the notorious head of the FBBI; the evil weasels who impose a pondweed tax on the beavers; Dam Vernon and Capitol Dam; and the Select Committee on Beaver Intelligence.

I’m feeling the inspiration again. Today’s news about raccoons invading the White House grounds sounds like a good reason for me to assume my alter ego as Mister Critter, wannabe author of children’s books about American history.

A small band of masked intruders has broken into the secure White House grounds and has evaded capture by agents of the new Obama administration, officials said today.

The National Park Service is in pursuit of one very large raccoon and several medium-sized raccoons, who have been spotted roaming the grounds around the Executive Mansion and the West Wing, a spokesman said.

Can you think of anyone better to write such books than a long-time Washington journalist who owns the pen name Mister Critter and calls himself “The Enlightened Redneck”? If any publishers out there are reading this blog, give me a holler. Let’s talk.

And if anyone wants to read the legend of George Beaver, I sell an e-book version and companion e-coloring book for $9.99. It’s a fun way to teach your children and grandchildren the history behind America’s first president.

Write me at danny@enlightenedredneck.com to place an order.