Footprints in the Snow

“What’s that sound?” Katrina gasped, snatching at her friend’s sleeve.“Oh, nothing really,” Mack answered casually. “Just a bird.”But the animal that jumped out in front of them on the path was definitely not a bird – it was a mountain lion! Mack and Katrina stared at it in bewilderment, vaguely wondering what was going to happen next. The children had already been startled out of their wits, so when the creature stepped closer, snarling and growling ferociously, they just turned and hastily scurried away.As he stumbled blindly along, Mack felt a warm spurt of blood suddenly trickling down his arm, but he ignored it in the great hope of reaching home safely before the mountain lion could make another swipe at one of them. Mack expected the vicious animal to attack him from behind at any given moment. Then he became aware that the noise had faded slightly…Could the mountain lion be stalking them silently? Risking a momentary glance over his shoulder, what the frantic boy saw only made him run even faster than ever – the wild animal was still giving chase!

Alison has been writing short stories to share with friends and family for many years and always enjoys exploring her creativity when putting pen to paper, so she is excited to have the opportunity to share her love of writing with others. Alison grew up around dogs, first Mila and then Smoky, who each went on many wonderful adventures and lived to a good old age, and she especially loves including 'man's best friend' or some other favorite animal throughout most of her stories.

Alison has been playing trombone since about 2010, euphonium from mid-2019, and always likes getting together with a few friends to ‘make a joyful noise’ sharing music. Alison also enjoys a bit of freelance photography when she gets the chance, especially if it involves taking pictures of sunsets.

Both The Bronson Escapades and The Wolf Cub are Silver Recipients of the Mom’s Choice Awards® honorary seal of excellence, with the latter being a 2nd place winner of the Royal Dragonfly Book Award Competition of 2024 in both the ‘Education’ and ‘Coffee Table & Gift Books’ categories, in addition to obtaining an Honorable Mention in several others: Best Cover Design, Children’s Chapter Books, Middle Grade Fiction, and Animals/Pets. More recently, The Wolf Cub also received a Bronze Medal in the 'EBook Pre-Teen Fiction' category in the 2025 Moonbeam Book Awards competition. Her 2024 trilogy titled Whisper, Lucas, and Escape have also been presented with the NAPPA Award winning seal.

Customer Reviews

5.0

4 reviews

N. N. Light’s Book Heaven, 2025

Footprints in the Snow is a delightful short story. While it’s written for children between the ages of nine and eleven years of age, adults will find it very entertaining. We meet our main characters, Mack and Katrina, doing what most children do—not listening to their parents. In this case, a (supposed) shortcut through the woods to get home from a party proves to be the wrong move. Mack hurts his arm when they flee from a mountain lion. Would they actually enter the forest again? Alison Bellringer has created a cast of characters that sprang to life. The friendship between Mack and Katrina was sweet and tender. Mack’s courage and his determination to do the right thing was admirable. I loved Mrs. Owens, Mack’s mom. Her frustration with her son was evident, but you could tell she loved him very much. A refreshing story, Footprints in the Snow is well-written, perfectly paced, and with an absolutely perfect ending. It would be a great book for the entire family to read together. I highly recommend it.
The Children’s Book Review, 2025

In yet another touching animal story from Alison Bellringer, readers will meet an impetuous 10-year-old from a chaotic family, whose instincts about wild animals are sound (even if his judgment about shortcuts is not). Mack has hurt his arm while taking a shortcut through the forest with his best friend, Katrina, when he ran into a mountain lion! He keeps trying to tell everyone what happened, but no one ever seems to have time to listen to him. In fact, all they are interested in doing is scolding him for getting into mischief again… Then, one winter day, he and Katrina spot tracks and blood in the snow—something small and defenseless is alone and injured in the woods where the mountain lion might still be lurking! In their determination to help, Mack and Katrina have a surprise in store. Mack is a typical impish little boy, and readers will love laughing along with his mother’s distracted attempts to keep up with his adventures and his own growing frustration at being unable to tell his story fully. Amid the humor, however, is the solemnity of the moment when Mack returns the injured baby to its mother, reminding us that in the midst of our human concerns and activities, the wild is there waiting to interact with us—if we’re willing to give it our attention. This short chapter book is a thought-provoking and entertaining story for any reader who loves animals and wild spaces.
Children’s Bookshelf, 2025

Two children decide to take a shortcut through a nearby forest. What was meant to save time, turns into a dangerous encounter with a mountain lion. Mack is slightly injured, but the kids escape safely, however nobody at home seems to pay it much attention. Amidst the hustle of family visitors, Mack struggles to share the story while everyday life carries on around him. Months later, the forest calls again. After a snowfall, Mack and Katrina discover fresh tracks that lead them to a surprising find… We read it out loud to the third graders and they really enjoyed it. I love the message about empathy, and respect for nature. The author does a wonderful job portraying realistic family life, scenarios and dialogue. It led to an interesting conversation about Mountain Lions, the dangers and how to react when we see one in the wild. Also we talked about wild animals, being compassionate and respectful of them and what to do if you find an injured animal. It’s a lovely winter story that proves even the smallest footprints can lead to the biggest acts of kindness. Definitely worth checking out!
Johanna du Toit: Mum, 2025

Footprints in the Snow is a heartwarming tale of friendship, adventure, and mystery. It’s tough to say who steals the spotlight – the fierce, untamed mountain lion or the boy with an unstoppable thirst for adventure. This story beautifully explores compassion and the wild spirit shared by animals and humans alike. It’s got heart and humour with a serious twist. The mix of everyday life and unpredictable moments makes it relatable and hard to put down