…And How Did It All Begin?

“Once upon a not-so-long time—somewhere between a math puzzle and a goose-feeding break—Critter Quest Academy began to stir my imagination.” A computer scientist with a love for stories, games, and rhymes, David Tra has long believed that learning could be joyful, silly, and just a little bit magical, and all the same, bring about understanding, good judgement, and hopefully, wisdom.

When he struggled to find engaging interactive and actually effective educational games or materials in general for his kids a few years ago, he was inspired to pick up the tools and start coding (Huh?! …didn’t think it could be said in so few words…but you get the point).

Then came a glowing tunnel, a curious badger named Tilly, and a question:
“What if wisdom and passion for learning lived underground, secretly, waiting for brave little minds to earn their way in and grasp them, and spread them?” Gasp!!

Inspired by his educational video games El Mathador and Treasure Math, he set out to create a new kind of learning concept—a world where characters face trials of wit and heart, and where every child could discover how clever, courageous they are, and enjoy putting to work the knowledge and understanding they’ve worked hard to gain, mastering them and expanding them.

Thus, the secret world of Prairie City was born into imagination—a hidden realm of scrolls, riddles, and glowing gateways. And from that spark came books, games, and a growing collection of stories for kids, families, and teachers who believe that learning should be inspiring, engaging, and even fun.

So grab your satchel, choose your path, and come join the quest. Because at Critter Quest Academy…” remember: Every tunnel is a path to discovery, not a destination.

Meet David Tra

Spinning scrolls of learning giggles, a humble guide through the tunnels of imagination.

David Tra is a computer scientist by day… and a tunnel-digging, rhyme-writing, critter-chronicling storyteller by night. With a mind for puzzles and a heart full of imagination, he created Critter Quest Academy to blend the fun of games, the magic of stories, and the joy of learning into one big underground adventure.

Before writing books about badgers and brainy scrolls, David designed educational games like El Mathador and Treasure Math, where math was the treasure and curiosity was the map. He lives on a small homestead in southern Maryland, where he’s often outsmarted by his ducks, serenaded by geese, or scribbling new ideas.

Whether he’s coding, composing, or dreaming up riddles, David believes one thing:

Every child has a brave little spark inside—sometimes it just needs a good story to light it up.