Barking Planet Children's & YA Books

Maddening Game

Lisa Von Drasek, Children's Librarian at the Bank Street College of Education, is recognized as an authority in the world of children's books. She is outspoken, lucid, and has a passion for her work.

She wrote an article on children's books in the December 14, 2007, Barnes & Noble Review in which she stated:

"There is a maddening game one finds played out in bookstores every holiday season. It is called 'stump the book giver.'The giving of a book is one of the most intimate of offerings. The best of these unassuming, neatly wrapped rectangles displays evidence of the giver having some knowledge of the recipient...It is insulting to the core to present a book to a ten-year-old that is developmentally appropriate for an eight-year-old. The rewards for getting it right, however, are rich."

We don't want to be disrespectful. We are writing children's books about the world of dogs.

We want to be accepted as insiders and not regarded as outsiders. On the other hand, we don't want to discourage potential readers. And we have passionate endorsements from readers 6 to 12 years of age. Several of these are posted on our website: www.planetofhtedogs.net.

We don't want to be part of the maddening game...should we continue to recommend our books to children 6 to 12 and dog lovers of all ages? Where should we draw the line?

Perhaps we should write to Ms Von Drasek..?

"Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole."      Roger Caras, By Definition

Working Dogs in the Land Of The Forest People

In real life, people have relied on working dogs for thousands of years.

In Castle In The Mist, the working dogs are the prime movers in bringing peace and restoring the land to the Forest people. Many other types of dogs play important roles, but, in the end, it is the courage and cleverness of the working dogs that so confounds Prince Ukko and the Black Hawk Tribe.

The Black Hawk soldiers had never seen dogs before. They had no knowledge of their courage, cleverness and endurance. And they had no idea that the dogs, through their extraordinary sense of smell could "see" in the darkness and could "see" in the foggy mist that enveloped the Castle and the great forest.

Many types of dogs -- terriers, mutts, mountain dogs, retrievers, shepherds --play an important role in the story. However, when the winter snow falls and the land is covered in white, it is the huskies and their close relatives who prevail.

The confrontations between the soldiers and the dogs produce lots of action, but no bloodshed. Nancy Warren Ferrel, Author/Parent and reviewer for the Juneau, Alaska Juvenile Book Review Group wrote (after reading an advance copy),"...very well written...and in spite of war, an underlying atmosphere of kindness prevails: there is little actual violence...especially fine illustrations add much understanding to the text..."

The dogs,with their bravery,cleverness and challenging confrontations, actually prevent war between the Black Hawk Tribe and the Stone City Warriors. And, in winning the respect of Prince Ukko they bring about the freedom of the kidnapped children from the Castle In The Mist.

John Winokur, in Mondo Canine, wrote,"The Border collie's natural herding instinct allows it to handle up to several hundred sheep alone, primarily by means of a mesmerizing stare known as the 'eye'."