Happy Holidays...
This photo, of dog lover Richard Bradley's Darcy and Caboose, says it all without words.
...You'll find more photos and writings, ramblings and comments about rocks in the shoe and his dogs on Richard's website...this link will take you to the sections with holiday photos of the dogs: www.arockinmyshoe.com/gallery.html
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Trouble in Snow Valley...
When the elves find that Dasher and Dancer are missing, it means the end of Christmas.
Santa can't deliver Christmas gifts to the children of the world.
This was the beginning, the premise we worked with in Snow Valley Heroes, A Christmas Tale... and soon there was the King of the North, the Ice Castle, the Tundra Town Traders, the Royal Forest and Santa Claus Village.
And then, of course, there came the dogs, from the snow covered mountains on the Planet of the Dogs to the snow covered hills of the Great North...from Snow Valley on their home planet to the Snow Valley where Santa lives.
It was up to the dogs, aided by Bean, Daisy and the Tundra Town Traders, to free Dasher and Dancer, and thwart the King of the North from destroying Christmas. And, of course, being dogs, they did just that, saving Christmas for children everywhere.
We hope that some day there will be a new song, The Dogs of Christmas, for dog lovers and kids, that celebrates this tale of Christmas joy.
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Therapy Reading Dogs bring Joy beyond the Holidays...
The relationship between kids and therapy reading dogs is often one of wonder and joy...
The experience of reading to dogs -- as witnessed by librarians, teachers, parents, therapy dog owners and the kids themselves -- opens doors to the wonderful world of reading.
Karen Sorenson and her certified Therapy Dog, Star, in Newburgh, IN, are the latest members of our reading family. Star is a 4 year old Lab who was rescued as a puppy.
Karen writes:"We work together as a team. In addition to our reading groups, we visit patients in St Mary's hospital and the Deacones Hospital Hospice Care Center. Star also accompanies me when I am tutoring at our local Literacy Center."
Second graders in Booneville, IN, have started reading Planet Of The Dogs. Karen says,"I am so pleased that even second graders can read this book. It makes them feel like great readers."
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We support...
We support therapy reading dog programs in IN, NY, NJ, CT, RI, PA, NH, FL, WI and soon, we hope, in TX.
If you have a therapy reading dog, or you are a teacher or librarian using a therapy dog reading program, let us know and we will send you one or more complimentary books from our Planet Of The Dogs series...email us at [email protected] and let the kids read dog stories to the dogs...
For sample chapters of all our books visit www.planetofthedogs.net
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LIBRARIANS -- visit us in Boston at the Mid-Winter ALA Convention
Visit the IPNE-IBPA Exhibit and take a look
at the Planet Of The Dogs Series...available
to ALA members with trade discount through Ingram.
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"Teachers and librarians...
Often rely on book lists, awards, and reviews to help them decide which books to purchase for their classroom or collection. It doesn't help when all the lists, all the awards, and all the sources of information are talking about the same books...I think that rather than retreating to a best seller mentality, they (teachers and librarians) owe it to the children that they ultimately serve, to do as much as humanly possible to help find good books that may not be recognized elsewhere." ...
This quote is from an article, looking for Undiscovered Gems in a Bestseller World, by Sheila Ruth, editor of Wands and Worlds, a community for anyone who loves reading juvenile and young adult fantasy and science fiction: www.wandsandworlds.com
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My vote for an adult/young adult Science Fiction undiscovered gem -- especially for dog lovers -- is Haint, by Joy Ward. A completely realized world, set on a future earth, where humans connect with dogs for all the benefits found in the human canine connection -- and for their very survival. Unique, well written, and gripping...
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The Hound Dog and his friend ...a video
This is quite extraordinary...it is not cutesy and silly...a video of friendship and trust...The Orangutan and the Hound, an AOL video
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/the-orangutan-and-the-hound/1234581161
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Dog Rescue is a way of life...
For Deb Beades, author of Every Rescued Dog Has a Tale,dog rescue is an ongoing part of her life. In this photo, Deb is with Bob, a 12 week old Australian Shepherd mix from Bardstown, KY...rescued , along with his brother Billy,they were part of a November rescue transport relay...Deb drove them,along with 4 shihtzus, from Cincinatti to Columbus...the relay ended at a final rescue destination in Cleveland...
Having read her book, an excellent personal account of the dog rescue world, I know that these efforts to save dogs from painful mistreatment -- or worse -- are never ending. Best holiday wishes from all of us at Planet Of The Dogs to all those like Deb, who support and take part in dog rescue.
Deb's website is a caring panorama of rescue stories, photos and information http://everyrescueddoghasatale.blogspot.com
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The Belonging Time...
Is a Chapter Heading in Cayr Ariel Wulff"s Born Without A Tail, her very personal story of sharing her home and her life with a an ever evolving pack of dogs and cats. Here is an excerpt from The Belonging Time...
"Whenever I think back over the years...my thoughts return to the time when Gypsy, Dillon, Pluto and Troll were the cornerstones of our pack.These four dogs completed us...my favorite part of each day was when we would all settle down together to sleep...
In winter months, the wind would howl outside and I would feel warm and safe, denned with my pack. These were times of total contentment. Times when a deep abiding sense of belonging warmed me to my soul."
Visit Cayr's website and see the yelodoggie cards and gifts...
On Goodreads, Cayr gave a very positive review to From Baghdad with Love: A Marine, the War and a Dog Named Lava by Jay Kopleman...despite her reservations about the war, she found the book to be an "exciting, edge-of-your-seat book" about a marine and a stray dog in the chaos and danger of the war in Iraq...and the marine's efforts to bring his dog friend home.
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In a recent article posted in www.pawnation.com...
Helena Sung writes of how Marine Major Brian Dennis' real life experiences in Iraq with a dog named Nubs led to a new children's picture book for young readers: Nubs, The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine & a Miracle.
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A New Planet Has Been Discovered...
Planet Of The Dogs is now on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZkbDoDsis4
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Homeschoolers discover our books...
Gradually, over the years, we have become aware of recognition and approval of the Planet Of The Dogs series from homeschoolers.
Shortly after the publication of Planet Of The Dogs, we heard from Melinda Gates, a home schooling mother in Texas. She had been reading the book to Zach, her 4 year old son, and told us that "it completely captivated him." Zach, now 7, has susequently read all the books in the series and is enthusiastic about them all. Melinda, meanwhile has posted a review on Amazon for Castle In The Mist.
Wisconsin homeschooler and writer, Kelly Curtis, asked her son,Craig, a fourth grader, to review Planet Of The Dogs on her blog: http://2passthetorch.com. Craig was also enthusiastic and positve.
We were quite touched when LaDonna Harris, a homeschooling mother of 5, blogger, and book reviewer (http://www.sensationaldivareview.com) wrote of how the Planet Of The Dogs reminded her of stories her missionary father told to his children on summer nights when they went camping on the prairies of Northern Canada."The Planet Of the Dogs story is familiar --not the story itseIf but the tone. I liked reading this book."
LaDonna also wrote, "I would suggest this book for that age group (8-12 year old children); simple to read with a great story. It is also at this age that the love of something becomes big in the life of your child -- love of horses, or dogs, or other such animals. This book is great for the dog lovers in your family!" LaDonna also has her own blog: www.justourthoughts.com.
A turning point in our relationship to homeschoolers came when Wayne Walker reviewed all our books for both Homeschool Buzz and Stories For Children Magazine. We found his reviews very professional, well written, interesting and insightful.
We say this not only because his reviews were favorable (we have received other good reviews that we would not describe in such a positive and inclusive way), but because of the totality of the reviews. One of them starts with this provocative sentance: "Do you think it is possible for dogs to stop a war?" Another begins,"Did you ever wonder how dogs became man's best friend?'
We also appreciate the fact that he cited the two levels of the books; it is our hope that readers recognize that there is more to the books than good stories. Wayne wrote, "Children will enjoy the story...But under the surface are the important messages of friendship, love, loyalty, and how to overcome evil with good."
Wayne and his wife, Karen (26 years of marriage) are mid-western homeshoolers with 2 sons. He has been reviewing for several years for homeschool websites and magazines.The Walkers are activists (Greater St Louis Area Home Educators Expo), and Wayne is a minister of the Gospel.
The weekly HomeSchool Buzz (http://homeschoolbuzz.com) is a project of the Davis family (Kathy andGary). They have 3 young sons (in the photo on the left) and live in Western New York...their lively blog features homeschool news, books and book reviews, as well as links and buzz from other homeschoolers.
Homeschool Buzz serves as a connecting source point for homeschoolers everywhere.
VS Grenier is the founder and editor-in-chief of Stories For Children,(http://storiesforchildren.org) a monthly internet magazine that is filled with fun stories, articles, crafts, puzzles, a bookstore, and children's book reviews; they also feature stories written and illustrated by children...all intended to inspire the imagination.
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Too Much Fear...
Barb Techel's new book,Frankie, the Walk 'N Roll Therapy Dog Visits Libby's House, helps children deal with the effects of old age and death, an inevitability in life, but an unusual theme for a young children's book.
When I commended her for taking on such difficult subject matter, she replied: "...I think as a society we have too much fear of getting old and death -- I want to help children, through Frankie, to view this in a more positive way. I hope my next book will be about be about hospice and death through Frankie's eyes once again..." We hope Barb's new book will become a mainstream discovery.
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Bad To The Bone...
Here is an excerpt from our Amazon review for this special book written by a dog..."Imagine a well written and often poignant memoir of family life, from the point of view of a salty but loving dog...clearly a book for dog lovers. But it has a greater appeal...dimensions that far exceeded my expectations...
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The Planet Of the Dogs Series is available on Amazon, B&N, and, in Australia,through Scribbly Gum Books. We have a shop for t-shirts, cups and hats on CafePress.com.
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"Come in, come in -- oh, do come in!
This is our house, but from now on it is yours and everything in it..."
-- Elizabeth Van Arnim(1866-1941)...All The Dogs Of My Life.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM BARKING PLANET AND THE PLANET OF THE DOGS
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