Barking Planet Children's & YA Books

Dogs, Books and Inspiration

  Dogs are Amazing...

When dogs bond with people, there are great possibilities for surprise, inspiration and joy. 

Molly Tortoro, mom, teacher, dog lover and book reviewer, surprised us when she wrote on her blog, My Cozy Book Nook, a warm and affirmative review of a book, A Big Little Life, by Dean Koontz. Our surprise lay in the fact that Koontz, who we always associated with genre novels of horror, fear and the supernatural, had written a loving book about his dog, Trixie.

To fully understand our surprise, here is an excerpt from the book quoted on the blog: "Other companion animals can make us more human, but because of the unique nature of dogs -- their clear delight in being with us, the rejoicing with which they greet us when we come home to them, the reliable sunniness of their disposition, the joy they bring to playtime, the curiousity and wonder with which they embrace each new experience -- they can melt away cynicism and sweeten a bitter heart."

To read all of her review, visit Molly's blog, at:http://mycozybooknook.blogspot.com

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Elves and Dogs

Elves are found in myriad forms in the literature and mythology of many cultures. 

Elves had never seen dogs until two of Santa's reindeer were missing.Fortunately they were instantly able -- just as children are -- to understand dogs.

The elves built the splecial sleds that enabled Daisy, Bean and the Tundra Town Traders to support the dogs in their plan to save Christmas. The dogs were able to enter the Ice Castle and free Dasher and Dancer from the King of the North. 

Visit our website, www.planetofthedogs.net to learn more and to read sample chapters of Snow Valley Heroes, A Christmas Tale.

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Amazing Sheepdogs...A Video treat...

A group of farmers, somewhere in the British Isles, are doing the most amazing things. Have you ever seen mysterious patterns of light moving through hills and meadows..?  

http://video.telegraph.co.uk/services/player/bcpid1137883380? bctid=17075685001

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Looking for Undiscovered Gems in a Bestseller World (continued)

Here is another excerpt from the important post by Sheila Ruth on www.wandsandwords.com.

Ms Ruth wrote about the difficulty today "to recognize and discover those good books that may not make bestseller status". Indeed, how does the child, the teacher, the librarian or the parent find that special book? On her website, dedicated to "anyone who loves reading juvenile and young adult science fiction and fantasy", she wrote:

 "According to the 2008 Scholastic Kids and Reading Report,'Trouble finding books is the key reason kids say they do not read more frequently'. This, in spite of the fact that approximately 30 thousand new children's books are being released each year. With so many books, why are children having trouble finding something to read? Maybe it's because they keep hearing about the same fifity books over and over again, and they don't know how to find other good books that will interest them in the vast quantitites of books out there."

We will continue with excerpts from Ms Ruth in future posts.

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Therapy Reading Dogs

We support Therapy Reading Dog Programs in NY, NJ, PA, NH, RI, FL, and WI.

If you have a therapy reading dog, or you are a librarian or teacher paticipating in a reading program, let us know, and we will send you one or more complimentary books from the Planet Of The Dogs series...Email us at [email protected]

We believe that kids like to read dog stories to dogs. On the left, is a photo of Rocky, in a New Hampshire classroom. Rocky also works with senior citizens and veterans. You can visit Rocky at: http//rockytherapydog.blogspot.com 

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Librarians...

Barking Planet Productions is a member of IBPA and IPNE. We will be exhibiting the Planet Of The Dogs book series in the IPNE exhibit at the next  ALA Convention in Jan '10.

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Yelodoggie...Yelodoggie

Dog lovers...Here's another special gift idea from Cayr Ariel Wulff, author of the wonderful book, Born Without A Tail...

it's the Yelodoggie Tote Bag.

To see more -- you can tell we are big fans of her work --  visit www.yelodoggie.com.

Meanwhile, it's Halloween, and Dillon, a much beloved dog (see our previous blog), who has a chapter devoted to him in Born Without A Tail, is pictured in his award winning Robin Hood costume. It is difficult to see in the photo, but his costume includes a miniature bow and arrow and a velcro attached quiver. We should also mention that when the panel of judges (the local mayor and neighborhood residents) announced that he had won first prize, Dillon began to jump up and down and bark. Happy Halloween.

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We are waiting for our copy of Bad to the Bone, the first book written by a dog (the first we know of) to arrive. The advanced chapters that we read, and the things written on the web site (http://boknowsonline.com), have us looking foward to the book's arrival.

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"Not only do they save Christmas, but they also teach the King of the North an important lesson he'll never forget. Written in folk style and illustrated in beautiful pencil drawings, Snow Valley Heroes is a charming and heart-warming Christmas tale."

 by Alice Berger:http://bergersbookreviews.wordpress.com

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Dogs and the Human Canine Connection

The Human Canine Connection can touch your heart... It can also make you laugh, relieve sadness, and renew a sense of wonder.

If you would like a smile, take a look at this wonderful music video where, dogs live as humans do: http://youtube.com/watch?v=B6C6YCTNqVo

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Dogs and the Great North...

It boggles the mind to think what would have happened if the King of the North had succeded in stopping Christmas.

And yet it was happening. Dasher and Dancer were missing, and without all of his extraordinary reindeer, Santa couldn't deliver presents to the children. The elves were unable to help, and the Tundra Town Traders, the people who knew where Santa lived, and often traveled there to deliver supplies, were baffled by events. 

Only the dogs could save Christmas. With their courage, their love for people, their cleverness, and their ability to function in the cold and snow, the dogs would overcome  all efforts by the King of the North and his soldiers to prevent the future of Christmas.

For sample chapters from Snow Valley Heroes, A Christmas Tale, and more information on the Planet Of The Dogs Series, please visit www.planetofthedogs.net

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I found another dimension of the Human Canine Bond in the writings of 

Cayr Ariel Wulf...

Her book, Born Without A Tail takes the reader into a life of empathy and love for dogs (and cats) that requires an enormous commitment to their well being. And yet for Cayr and her partner, taking care of and living with rescued dogs and cats is second nature, for they have always been tuned in to the wonders of the Human Canine Bond. And, although I am not a cat person, I have much greater positive feelings for cats after reading Cayr's book.

I first encountered Cayr and her world on the Dogster Dog Eared Book Club, where Born Without a Tale had been chosen as Book of the Month.

To give you an idea of her relationship to her canine companions, I quote the following from the book about Dillon, an adopted poodle-beagle mix. He was a family member for over 20 years. His photo is on the left.

"But deep down, the uncomfortable truth was that I was so emotionally involved in Dillon that I could not find words to accurately convey the quality or depth of my feelings. At times, the emotion made my chest tight and left me breathless. He was part of me."

Cayr Wulff is also an artist and has created a delightful series of drawings,illustrations, cups, totebags and more in the dog persona she created as Yelodoggie..."All dogs, deep in their heart are yellow, because yellow is the color of light and the color ofjoy and happiness, and these elements are the essence of dogs." 

For more information and a gallery of Yelodoggies, please visit: www.yelodoggie.com

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We support therapy reading dog programs in NY, NJ, PA, NH, RI, FLA, and WI.

 If you have a therapy dog participating in library or school reading programs, let us know, and we will send you one or more complimentary books from the Planet Of The Dog Of The Dogs series...Email us at [email protected]

We are members of IBPA (Independent Book Publishers of America) and IPNE (Independent Publishers of New England).

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Coming next year: Planet Of The Dogs, A Travel Guide (from Poodletown to Retiever Meadows, stories, places, and dog life)

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From www.WandsandWorlds.com 

 Sheila Ruth, editor/publisher and webmaster of Wands and Worlds. a "community for anyone who loves reading juvenile and young adult fantasy and science fiction", earlier this year published an important and provacative post entitled: Looking for Undiscovered Gems in a Bestseller World.

The following excerpts provide only a limited idea of the core issues explored by Ms Ruth: "Over the past few years or so, I've become increasingly frustrated with what seems to be a growing obsession with the "bestsellers" and "big books" in the children's and young adult world. It's true we've looked at the bestsellers for a long time now, but there have always been ways to discover those good books that may not make bestseller status, but still have a very strong appeal to young people. Yet lately, it seem that many of those avenues are succumbing, one by one, to a focus on the same bestsellers and big buzz books that appear everywhere else...

I'm not trying to say that they don't deserve attention, or that bestseller lists and buzz don't have value...However, there is also value in finding good books that may not be as well known, and it's this value that seeems to be falling by the wayside..."

We will post more excerpts from this artcle in future Barking Planet Blogs.

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Alice's reviews...

We were very pleased that book lover Alice Berger (http://bergersbookreviews.wordpress.com) found the Human Canine Connection when she recently reviewed Snow Valley Heroes, A Christmas Tale.

Alice is also the author of Who's Taking A Bath.

We have followed her intelligent, wide ranging, and concise reviews for some time now. Her ability to convey content, syle and quality about a very diverse range of books, from spiritual and self help to history and children's  books, is refreshing and most informative. Berger's Book Reviews is definitely a place to find good books.

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Bad To The Bone -- A New Book by a Dog.

I've ordered this book after reading ten 5 star reviews on Amazon, reading a sample chapter (Sneak Peek), and because I think that the dog, Bo, may have had help from Horst Hoefinger, Dogster Blog Editor. Here is an introduction...

"Let's get this clear right away: I'm a dog.

I'm 1'10" and weigh 63 lbs, and although I'm a mutt on the outside, I'm a purebred on the inside. My good nature comes from the Golden Retriever side of the family while my stubborness clearly comes from my Chowchow bloodlines. I've got Rastafarian ears, a black tongue for licking, and paws that should be on a dog twice my size.

I type 60 words a minute.

My name is Bo , and this is my story"

For more information and fun visit: http://boknowsonline.com

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"In the beginning, God created man, but seeing him so feeble, He gave him the dog."

--Toussenel

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