Dogs Understand...
The Dog Whisperer, Cesar Milan, with his calm, assertive manner, has helped people to understand that developing trust in a dog is not achieved by yelling or hitting...a dog best responds to a balanced approach that involves talking, patience, and respect for the dogs intelligence.
Cesar communicates with dogs with his voice, his manner, and his body language. Dogs understand him and he understands dogs.
Ted Kerasote, the author of Merle's Door, Lesssons from a Free thinking Dog, winner of the National Outdoor Book Award, takes a similar approach.
From the opening chapters of the book, Kerasote is talking and "listening" to Merle, his newly found dog. Their relationship remains a dialogue of mutual respect. There are times where it is very difficult for Kerosote to detirmine how certain instinctual behaviors --such as chasing prey that runs -- enhanced by a life of running free prior to their partnering, can be changed. This behavior must change, however, or Merle will one day be shot by a rancher.
Despite problems like this, Kerosote believes that if you..."give your dog space, talk to him sensibly, show him what needed to be done...while generally letting him learn from the world around him, and he'd respond like the clever being he was." It's not an easy task, but ultimately, Merle learns. And in the end, caring and love have a major impact on the outcome.
In the Planet Of The Dogs Series, kids and dogs talk with, listen to, and understand each other. Adults, never having seen dogs before, relate to the dogs differently. As the dogs prove themselves in different circumstances, many of the adults -- farmers, woodsmen, mothers and warrior soldiers -- come to respect and admire them.
From the beginning, however,it is the children (and Healers) who understand and talk to the dogs.
Daisy and Bean, from the time of their first visit to the Planet Of The Dogs, are able to understand the dogs.
And in Snow Valley Heroes, A Christmas Tale, the elves have a special relationship with both Santa's reindeer and the dogs who come to save Christmas.
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The New Magic Bookshelf by Janie McQueen -- 10th Anniversary Edition
This exceptional book offers adults insights, guidelines and recommendations to help them find the optimum way to bring their children into the wonderful world of books.
The writing is clear and lucid, the concepts embrace a wide range of relevant and practical thinking, and all the content is driven by an appreciation and love of reading.
The Midwest Book Review said it this way: "Finding the right book for one's child is absolutely essential for promoting a life long love of reading. The New Magic Bookshelf: Finding Great Books Your Child Will Treasure Forever is a guide for parents and educators in matching children with the right books that will spark that love for literacy...a solid acquisition for anyone seeking to promote literacy in their own or other's children."
Here are excerpts from the book:
"A magic bookshelf exists in the mind; it's the collection of rich stories, characters and ideas that remain with you long after the books have been read, that becomes part of you, that continues to delight and influence you for the rest of your days."
"Books are magical...Young imaginations skip easily from reality to fantasy, and live safely in both worlds. And books can move your child through the transitions and pahses of life unlike anything else."
You can visit The New Magic Bookshelf on line at: www.magicbookshelfonline.com.
If you visit the blog, http://magicbookshelfonline.wordpress.com you can read reviews of the Planet Of The Dogs Series.
We were delighted to find that Janie McQueen and her son, Thomas Jarvis (age 10) were both enthusiastic about our books. The photo at the left is of Janie with her sons, Riley (12) on the left and Thomas (10) on the right. There are also 2 infants in the McQueen-Jarvis home.
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Reading To Dogs...
Kids enjoy reading to therapy dogs and programs are growing in libraries and classrooms around the country.
Reading skills, comprehension, and enthusiasm increase when kids read to dogs. Dogs are non-judgemental and provide a friendly listener environment for the reader.
This photo was taken in the Pages for Preston Progam, created by teacher Julie Hauck at the Longfellow School in Sheboygan, WI.
We support therapy reading dog programs in NY, NJ, PA, ME, RI, FLA, and WI. If you have a therapy dog participating in a library or school reading program, let us know, and we will send you a book from the Planet Of The Dogs Series...Email us at [email protected].
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BOOKSHOWS
As members of NEIPA -- the New England Independent Publishers Association -- we are exhibiting at the following upcoming bookshows.
Burlington Book Festival...Burlington VT...September 25-27
New England Independent Booksellers...at the Connecticut Convention Center...Hartford, CT...October 2-3
New England Library Association Annual Convention...at the Connecticut Convention Center...Hatford, CT...October 18-20
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National Disabled Pets Day
Frankie, the Walk'N Roll Dog, has been chosen as official mascot for National Disabled Pets Day (MAY 3). www..disabledpetsday.com
Already a member of the Wisconsin Pet Hall of Fame, Frankie is seen here with owner and award winning children's book author Barb Techel.
Her next book, to be released in 2010, is Frankie, the Walk 'N Roll Therapy Dog Visits Libby's House. Advance word is that this is an even more touching story than the first book, Frankie, the Walk 'N Roll Dog.
Also scheduled for release in 2010 is the fourth volume in the Planet Of The Dogs Series...Planet Of The Dogs, A Travel Guide.
This book will include material that the dogs told children long, long ago, when the dogs first cmae to Planet Earth to help people and teach them about loyalty and love.
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National Dog Day is August 28....
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WE have been informed that Best Western has 1900 Pet-Friendly Motels that welcome Dogs.
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"There is no such thing as a non-reader, the kids just haven't found the right book." -- Josie Leavitt, co-owner of The Flying Pig Bookstore in Shelburne, VT and co-author of the Shelf Talker blog on School Library Journal.
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