Invaders, Kids and Dogs…
In a world where Invaders have always been with us, how close to reality should our books be...how much should they reflect and parallel the real world?
We want our readers to become involved and enjoy reading about long long ago, when dogs first came down to Earth...
We are also trying to help them understand the very real dangers in having a homeland that is threatened, or the fear that invaders bring to innocent good people.
On the other hand, we don’t want to give them bad dreams.The challenge is to strike a balance.The answer for us lies in the dogs abilities to find non-violent solutions to potentially violent situations.
Perhaps my awareness of Invaders is heightened by the fact that although I spent most of my life in the USA, I am currently living in Finland, a country that lived under the yoke of invaders (Swedes and Russians) for over 600 years. In the Winter War of 1939, Russia, under Stalin, again invaded Finland, but was thwarted from achieving conquest .
Invaders and Dogs
Invaders in our books have heard about dogs, but have never seen them.Their information is very limited and often inaccurate. They are unaware that dogs have the ability, through their incredible sense of smell, to follow a trail,to see in the dark, or know what lies buried beneath the snow.
These qualities -- when combined with courage, endurance, loyalty, and love for human beings -- enable them to find non-violent solutions to potentially violent situations.
Prince Ukko (on the left) tried to destroy the dogs howling outside his Castle In The Mist. Kidnapped children were held prisoner in the Castle, and war was imminent. Only the dogs could prevent invasion and chaos from enveloping the land of the Forest people.
Kids and Dogs
In our books, just as in real life, kids have special bonds with dogs. Extra-special bonds, actually, for they understand each other's thoughts. The kids are the messengers between the dogs and the adult world.
Hopefully, most of our readers will have at least some access to dogs in their lives. And hopefully, they will be among the fortunate children who will never have real Invaders in their world.
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Kids, Books and Dogs...
We support kids reading to therapy dogs...
We support kids reading dog books to therapy dogs...
We support therapy reading dog programs in IN, NY, NJ, CT, RI, PA, NH, FL, WI, and TX.
In the photo on the left, Star, a 4 year old lab in Newburgh, IN, works as a team with Karen Sorensen. Shown here with their friend Emily, the team visits schools, hospitals and hospice patients. Star also accompanies Karen when she tutors at the local Literacy Center.
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...
Frankie, the Walk'N Roll Dog, like Star, is also a multi-faceted therapy dog...
Barb Techel and her therapy dog, Frankie, have motivated kids and adults from bookstores to schools. Now,in her latest book about Frankie, Barb writes about their visits to Libby's House. In this
second book in the series, Frankie becomes a therapy dog and brings healing
love to old people. All children who have read the first book relate to
Frankie's courage. Now, they will be fascinated by his ability to open the
hearts of old people and bring hope and friendship into their lives. This is a
wonderful story of the human canine bond for children, parents, and
grandparents...Frankie the Walk N'Roll Dog Visits Libby's House...
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How To Get Your Kids To Read...
We know that therapy dogs can help, but we also know that home is where it all begins. Maria Rodale, book author,CEO and Chairman of Rodale, Inc. wrote an excellent article that appeared on the Huffington Post last year. This is how it begins:
How to Get Your Kids To Read
It occurs to me that I might have found the secret formula for getting kids to read. While the media and teachers complain that kids don't read anymore, I can't get my kids to stop. Even Lucia, who is too young to read, is a voracious reader. I jokingly yell at Eve (age 12), "How many times do I have to tell you to STOP reading!" She would read while walking and eating if we would let her. And not only is Maya (age 27) a published romance novelist, but she's about to get her master's degree in literary history, and has read the works of Proust...all of them.
So
what's the secret?1. Be a reading role model. Thanks to mirror neurons
in the human brain, our kids will mimic whatever we do. So if we spend a lot of
time reading, they will spend a lot of time reading. It doesn't matter whether
it's People magazine, romance novels, or literary fiction, -- the act of reading in front of our kids makes them want to read. So if you want your kids to read, read in front of them.Read newspapers, magazines, books, and cereal boxes...
Ms Rodale continues the article, sharing five more helpful guidelines based on real-life experiences with her family.For more from Maria Rodale, go to www.mariasfarmcountrykitchen.com.
Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maria-rodale/how-to-get-your-kids-to-r_b_348298.html&cp
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For sample chapters of all our books visit www.planetofthedogs.net
In India, our books are available via www.flipkart.com and rediff books...
In the USA, at your local Independent bookstore
Or, on the internet via B&N, Amazon, Powell's and others...or on
the Internet in the UK through Amazon and Bangzo.
In Australia through Scribbly Gum Books...
the UK at Amazon and Bangzo (over 2million books in stock)
Planet Of The Dogs hats, t-shirts, cups etc are in our Cafe Press Shop
Bookstores, Schools and Librarians- Order our books through Ingram (professional discount)....
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V
isit Booth 1523 -- the Independent Book Publishers Association Exhibit
at the
Public Library Association Conference
...............ALA Midwinter… If you braved the winter
for the ALA Convention in Boston, we’ll send you complimentary reader copies of
our Planet Of The Dogs Series… we hope you looked at our books in the IPNE (Independent Publishers of New England) exhibit…40
New England publishers were there (photo on the left)…email us at [email protected] with a postal
address and we’ll send the books.
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Here is a brand new yeloggie from Cayr Wulff , author of the very special human-canine bonding book
Born Without aTail....
see more at www.yelodoggie.com
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Teachers and Book Lovers -- feel good -- look at this Video...
A very large gathering of middle school kids have a musical shout out," Gotta Keeep Reading"...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6D9jiEYxzs#watch-main-area
Thanks for the info regarding this video to Jen Robinson (Joy of Children's Literature) and Katie at her blog http://creativeliteracy.blogspot.com
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Celebrate Children's Book Week, May 10-16
Children's
Book Week introduces young people to new authors and ideas in schools,
libraries, homes and bookstores. This nationwide initiative by the Children's Book Council (CBC) encourages young people to discover the world beyond their own through books.
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A Fascinating Retired Librarian in Victoria, BC...
We are always interested in knowing more about our reviewers. Here is a quote about herself from Barbara Julian -- animal lover, nature lover and book lover...."Barbara Julian is a writer and reviewer who can't get over her old librarian's habit of telling people what to read -- especially from the ever- blooming crop of nature books..."
And here is Barbara writing about Animal Literature..."The more we study animals the more we understand ourselves, whether through books or live encounters. Companion & food animal populations grow, wild animal contacts decrease, rights issues intensify & all impact our lives, as reflected in the growth of animal literature"…her website is: http://www.animalit.ca...
In addition to being an advocate for Animal Literature, nature and the environment, Barbara recently opened the Overleaf Cafe-Bookshop -- specializing in vegetarian lunches, afternoon teas, local art and readings by local authors.
Apparently, she has not yet retired. Meanwhile, here is an excerpt from her review...
"Possibly Alexander McCall Smith (see the Corduroy Mansions note above) would understand the appeal for child readers, and for the author who created them, of the denizens of the "Planet of the Dogs." The canines coming from there, of all breeds, shapes and sizes, arrived on Earth because they had learned that Earth was so much in need of kindness, loyalty, trust and heroism -- the gifts that the dog nation has always given humanity"...
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Share A Story-Shape a Future...
Terry Doherty(photo on left), the force behind Scrub-a-Dub-Tub, is also the prime mover behind Share a Story-Shape a Future...for complete, updated info on this very special Internet initiative for children's reading, visit: http://shareastory-shapeafuture.blogspot.com...
Here is quote from the blog...
"Yeah! It's here! Share a Story-Shape a Future 2010 has started. We selected the theme It Takes a Village to Raise a Reader because learning to read is an immersive process ... everyone in a child's life plays a role, either formally or informally. One of our goals with this year's event is to share ideas about all of the ways we can create readers and, by extension, celebrate the efforts that each of us dedicate to the children in our lives."
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Musing Our Children...
It was only after
Cheryl C Malandrinos (photo on the left) had reviewed our Planet Of The Dogs series on her Children and Teens Book Connection that we learned that she is a founding member of Musing Our Children--a group dedicated to
encouraging a love of reading and writing in young people. She is also Editor
in Chief of the group’s quarterly newsletter, Pages & Pens.
In addition to being a book reviewer, blogger, and virtual book tour coordinator(Pump Up Your Book Promotion) her first children's book will be released by
Guardian Angel Publishing in the fall of 2010.
She is also a Mom. In the lower photo she is with her daughter Katherine. You can visit Cheryl online at http://ccmalandrinos.tripod.com/index.html
Here is an excerpt from her review...
..."these would make excellent books to use in the classroom, as the concepts of problem solving, acceptance, and tolerance flows through all three of the Planet of the Dogs books. If you love dogs, enjoy fantasy, and like to share stories with the family, Planet of the Dogs will certainly be a good choice for you.
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Books, Gardens and Dogs....You will find them all on this website...check it out...
BOOKHOUNDS...http://maryinhb.blogspot.com/
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SunBear Squad, Inc. -- Transforming Animal Lovers...
We learned about this very special and worthy organization through Joy Ward -- writer, editor, and author of Haint, a terrific dog/sci fi novel.
The following is from the SunBear Squad website: http://www.sunbearsquad.org ...
"
Transforming Animal Lovers into Animal Welfare Defenders...this site offers all-original knowledge, tools, and inspiration to help individuals prepare...to enable them to always call authorities when animal abuse, neglect, or distress threatens an animal...We want to make it easier and safer, so everyone will be more confident about doing the right thing."
The site provides specific guidelines and information to make us all Animal Welfare Defenders.
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"Labradors (make) lousy watchdogs. They usually bark when there is a stranger about, but it is an expression of unmitigated joy at the chance to meet somebody new, not a warning."-- Norman Strung
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