What books should young kids read that appeal to their imagination, to their love of good stories, and have some relevance to the world around them?
When our readers become young teens, they read well-written and imaginative books that deal with violence, but usually without considering, or even mentioning, non-violent solutions...
Like the Planet of the Dogs series, they are usually set in a time and place far removed from the present...
Setting a book in the past, or on other worlds in the future, provides authors with more freedom to exercise their imagination.
The prize winning novels of the Chaos Walking series by Patrick Ness recount how "War makes monsters of men"...the bloody conquest of the Middle Ages have inspired George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire,a popular series of conquest and power stuggles (over 15 million in book sales worldwide)...and in Christopher Paolini's Best selling Eragon, the evil king Galbatorix creates havoc and violence amidst dragons,elves,dwarfs and humans.
Violence, power struggles, and conquest are central themes in all these books
Do our books, that put forth non-violent solutions to the threat of war and invaders, still have a valid place in this world? Never mind that these solutions are created by dogs and kids.
The internet, cell phones, digital cameras, and TV news constantly remind us that we live in a violent world.
Today, Libya, Syria, Somalia, Afghanistan, Pakistan are filled with ongoing violence...
And yet there is also the heritage of Gandhi and Martin Luther King.
And millions of people are involved in non-violent movements in the Arab Awakening.
Perhaps it does make sense for dogs to come down to our planet to teach us about loyalty and love...and to help us seek non-violent solutions to invasion and war.
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A Dog Walks Into the Room...
Therapy Dogs and the Human-Canine Connection
I wrote this article with the support and information from several therapy dog owners. The complete article was published on PawNation and featured on RedRoom as Blog of the Day
How can a dog walking into a room change the lives of the people who are there? It happens all the time. For the old and infirm, the eyes light up and a smile may cross their face. For the dying, it is a moment of connection with a world they are leaving. For a child, a door opens to the world of reading, a world of imagination and information, a world of possibilities.
The Human-Canine Connection – The Therapy Reading Dog
Those who have witnessed therapy dogs interacting with people testify to the positive effects created by the human-canine connection.
Parents are amazed and grateful when their child opens up to reading after spending time with Star, a rescued Labrador in the Paws for Tales library program. Star's owner, Karen Sorenson, has started several of these programs for children, kindergarten to fourth grade, in and around Warrick County, Indiana. Even reluctant readers will come around after spending time with Star. Like many therapy dog teams, Karen and Star visit other venues where the human-canine connection is beneficial, volunteering at St. Mary's Hospital, Deaconess Hospice, and in the Evansville Literacy Center, where Karen works as a tutor.
The Dog in the Classroom
Julie Hauck, a third-grade teacher in Sheboygan, Wis., owns a certified therapy reading dog. Five years ago, she created the Pages for Preston program. Preston, a Cavalier King Charles spaniel, like all therapy reading dogs, is neither judgmental nor critical, and the children love to gather in a circle and read to him. "The dogs calm us down when we pet them so that we can read better," said Caroline, a student in the class...
To read all of this article, please visit PawNation ...the photo shows Carol Varney's therapy dog, Rocky, in the classroom...Rocky and Carol are profiled in the article.
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Therapy Reading Dogs and Owners Recognized by the
The U.S. Senate...
A senate proclamation has extablished November 14th as
National Reading Education Assistance Dogs Day...
I know this is a rather cumbersome way to say it, nevertheless it is an official government salute of recognition to the librarians, teachers, therapy reading dogs and dog owners who are opening the doors to reading for kids. Congratulations to all...
The photo shows Susan Purser's therapy dog Rose with her friend, Kite.
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Read Dog Books To Dogs
If you have a therapy reading dog and like the idea of kids reading dog books to dogs, send us an email at barkingplanet@aol.com and we'll send you a complimentary book from the Planet Of The Dogs Series.
Teachers,therapy dog owners, and librarians all tell us that kids are enthusiastic about reading dog books to dogs. Here are some comments from third grade kids in teacher Julie Hauck's Pages for Preston reading program in Sheboygan, WI
"The book is good because it talks about problem solving."
"The dogs can learn from the kids and the kids can learn from the dogs."
"The Kids and the dogs can teach adults a lesson."
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Nancy Houser's Way Cool Dogs website features an array of interesting, thoughtful and relevant articles for dog and pet owners...Recently, in an article based on experience, research, and love for dogs, she wrote an informed and practical article on Pet Health...here is the opening...
"Here are some of the most popular questions about pet health among pet owners. As partner of a Nebraska pet rescue with pet health problems in our many elderly pets, we have seen animals arrive here with all kinds of health issues. Since starting Way Cool Dogs about two years ago this past March, we have been asked many questions about pet health and researched even more of the major pet health issues for Way Cool Dogs…cheap pet health insurance rates, pet insurance for older pets, best joint supplement pet health, and a pet health certificate for travel."
If you have questions about pet health insurance costs, pet insurance for older dogs, releif for sore joints in older dogs, or gettin pet health certificate for travel, you will find answers on Way Cool Dogs.
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This dog, along with many others, came down to earth from the Planet of the Dogs to teach people about loyalty and love and to help them find non-violent solutions to conflicts and war.
This happened long, long ago.
If you haven't seen the original You Tube announcement about the discovery of the Planetof the Dogs, click this link... NewPlanet...to read sample chapters visit this link...PlanetOfTheDogs.
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A cadre of professional storytellers will discuss their profession, misconceptions about the job, and the role of storytelling in today’s society. The panel will include LuAnn Adams, Regina Ress and Bill Gordh.
The Children's Literary Salon is a monthly event for people with an interest in children's literature. Attendees are adults interested in the field, including authors, illustrators, librarians, editors, agents, parents, teachers, and enthusiasts. This program is not for children.
This event will be held in the Children's Center (Room 84) on the ground level of the Schwarzman Building, NYPL.
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from Dogster...
***********Hollywood Dogs and the true story of Toto**********
Toto the Story of a Dog
By Allan Ellenberger
"It comes to us courtesy of Allan R. Ellenberger, who wrote for his very interesting and entertaining blog, Hollywoodland. Thank you, Allan!"
"The most indulged of all the spoiled lovelies of Hollywood during the Golden Age were the canine actors who worked in films. They had their own hotel—The Hollywood Dog Training School—where at one time, seventy-five of the best known dogs of the screen lived in tranquil comfort..." To read the rest of this article about Hollywood in the thirties...Shirley Temple, Judy Garland and Toto in the Wizard of Oz, click and visit Dogster
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Deanna Leah of HBG Productions and the International Publishers Alliance...
Deanna represents books that are life affirming and empowering, ranging from emotional and spiritual development to children's books.
Deanna will represent our Planet Of The Dogs series October 12-16 at the International Frankfurt Book Fair 2011~ Hall 8 N-949... 5 full days, 8 halls, over 290,000 visitors, 7,300 exhibitors from 100 countries, referred to as the greatest book fair in the world...Deanna has had 43 foreign rights offers for her clients since last year's Frankfurt Book Fair...We are hoping that we are well received, along with her other clients, this year.
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Nor'wester Therapy Reading Dogs, led by two women with extensive experience, is continues to grow as they bring the joy of reading to kids in PA...
"This organization has grown in 5 years from one dog to 25 therapy dogs...located in ...Richboro, Pa. it was started by and is the brainchild of Wendi Huttner, a former Council Rock parent, who is owner of Ridgeway Labrador Retrievers. She has been a breeder, exhibitor, and dog trainer for over 30 years. Over the years her dogs have been conformation champions, obedience title holders, working field dogs, and a Seeing Eye trainee. Wendi is a certified therapy dog handler, and her dogs Wes and Sadie are both AKC Canine Good Citizens (CGC) as well as registered therapy dogs with The Bright & Beautiful Therapy Dogs, Inc.
Co-partner in this organization is Deborah (Debbie) Glessner worked as a school librarian for 37 years and three years as the district curriculum coordinator for library media services in Council Rock School District. She was approached by Wendi Huttner to become co-director of the Nor'wester Readers program upon her retirement in 2007. Debbie owns a Labrador Retriever named Hannah who is also an AKC Canine Good Citizen and a registered therapy dog with The Bright & Beautiful Therapy Dogs, Inc."
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See Our Books...As members of the Independent Publishers of New England, IPNE, we
will be exhibiting our books at the following events:
NELA -- New England Library Association Annual Conference in Burlington Vermont,Oct 2-4...Tables 501-502
NEIBA -- New England Independent Bookstore Association, in Providence, R.I, Oct 12-14.
Boston Book Festival -- Boston, MA, at Copley Square, October 15.
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PetsBlogs recently posted several dog quotes, including several classics...here are three... to read more, click PetsBlogs...We will be the featured Blog on Sept. 21,on PetsBlog's Wordless Wednesday.
“I talk to him when I’m lonesome like; and I’m sure he understands. When he looks at me so attentively, and gently licks my hands; then he rubs his nose on my tailored clothes, but I never say naught thereat. For the good Lord knows I can buy more clothes, but never a friend like that.” ~ W. Dayton Wedgefarth
“The dog was created specially for children. He is the god of frolic.” ~ Henry Ward Beecher
“If you don’t own a dog, at least one, there is not necessarily anything wrong with you, but there may be something wrong with your life.” ~ Roger Caras.
The illustration is from Castle In The Mist.
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Read Sample Chapters of all our books on our website: www.planetofthedogs.net
All books in the Planet Of The Dogs series can be purchased at your favorite bookstore or on the internet through Amazon, Barnes & Noble , Powells and others...
Librarians, teachers, bookstores -- order our books directly from Ingram...professional discount, of course.
Planet Of The Dogs hats, t-shirts, cups etc are in our Cafe Press Shop
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Sniffing Dogs ensure that you are Safe at the Mall...
Tamara Lush visits the Mall Of America for the Huffington Post
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — A janitor spots an abandoned diaper bag lying on a table in the sprawling food court at the Mall of America. A bomb-sniffing dog and a security officer are there within minutes, examining the package while nearby shoppers are held a safe distance away.
No bomb. Case closed. But that scene is repeated at the nation's largest shopping center 150 times a month.
Years ago, lost purses or shopping bags would just go to the lost and found. But after the Sept. 11 attacks and a series of terror threats against malls, "we realized that bad guys don't write `explosives' on the side of packages," said Maj. Douglas Reynolds.
He heads a 150-officer security force trained in Krav Maga, the official self-defense system of Israeli security forces. A plainclothes unit is solely devoted to behavioral profiling.
Terror threats against U.S. malls – federal authorities have charged suspects in at least three terror plots since the Sept. 11 attacks – have made huge behind-the-scenes changes to one of the most treasured American experiences – going to the mall.
Shoppers say they hardly notice the closed-circuit cameras, plainclothes officers and trained dogs, and believe the risk of getting attacked at a shopping center is remote....more on the Huffington Post
The dog seen above, is not from the mall. This is Billy, from an illustration in Castle In The Mist.
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Videos....A Day in the Life of a Dog named Stella...2:07 warm, delightful visit to a dog's world by a dog lover...see it on Vimeo...a video by Jesse Rosten
A Boy and His Dog...a sweet, sentimental 3 minutes of a small boy and his Labrador...(turn the music to low)....to visit, click BoyandHisDog
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Bark For Life...where dogs and dog lovers help the ACS...
Ruth Driewer writes that the Southeastern Wisconsin Bark For Life event was a tail wagging success...Bark For Life is a dog
friendly, fund raising event for the American Cancer Society. The event featured more than a dozen sponsors, demonstrations (i.e. K9 Unit, animal communicator, agility), several rescues/humane societies and numerous businesses (i.e. Starbucks, PetSmart) donating items, gift baskets and gift certificates for the silent auction". ..We donated a set of
the Planet of the
Dogs series for the silent auction.
The photos were taken at the event by Ruth. Her therapy dog, Bessie, is on the top right.
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I started following the Fun Times Guide for Dogs in earnest after Lynette, who very rarely reviews books, and especially children's books, reviewed Planet Of The Dogs, and compared it to the Wizard Of Oz.
"Think Wizard of Oz... where the good witch, cowardly lion, tin man, scarecrow, and even the wise old wizard are the dogs. And they're trying to instill good things upon all of the 2-legged humans who cross their path...I liked it! (And I'm not much of a fiction book reader.) I think children would like it most of all."
Lynette, the editor and a dog lover, describes herself in this way....
Last night we discovered a new game that everyone can play. Froot Loop Catch. All the dogs circle around and one of us flings Froot Loops at their faces. My dogs love Froot Loops. Everybody stands in the circle and watches their buddies snatch the tiny donuts of dry cereal out of the air, and waits for their turn to try their skill. It’s a true group game, because the dogs that are waiting their turn know that every throw means a potential miss, and the possibility of an extra treat landing at their feet...
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Sunbear Squad ...devoted to informing all of us what to do if we see a dog in distress -- lying in the road, mistreated, abandoned...Sunbear Squad provides knowledg, guidance and experience....For information, background and to get your own Roadside Rescue Kit, visit: www.sunbearsquad.org
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"The more we study animals, the more we understand ourselves, whether through books or live encounters..." Barbara Julian on her animalit site.
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