Sofie's Solitaires is more than just a children's book created from my imagination. The story focuses on the Black Faced Solitaire, a Costa Rican songbird endangered by the caged bird trade. My inspiration came from Leslie Howle at the Toucan Rescue Ranch who first introduced me to the plight of this endearing little songster.
 
Costa Rican legend says that the magical song of the Black Faced Solitaire contains nine smaller songs and that a single bird can sing only one of them. Whether the legend is true or not, it results in many  solitaires being cruelly trapped and captured for the caged bird trade. A set of nine solitaires, professed to sing all nine songs, brings a huge price on the black market.