Children's Book Review Author Showcase

I am so honored to be featured in the Author Showcase on The Children's Book Review website!  Check out the review below!


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Literary Classics Book Awards and Reviews: Priceless Penny, by Lauren Kramer-Theuerkauf, earn...

Literary Classics Book Awards and Reviews: Priceless Penny, by Lauren Kramer-Theuerkauf, earn...: Penny, a pound puppy, anxiously awaits adoption day.  She

The BEST Kids Picture Books of 2016

Lucy Pet Products Product Review

Slowly, I took a deep breath.  The smell of coconut and sun tan lotion filed my nostrils.  I was instantly transported to a tropical beach.  What scent could have elicited such a response?  My dog's shampoo!

While attending the BarkWorld 2016 expo in Atlanta, GA, we met two wonderful representatives from Lucy Pet Products.  This company was founded by Joey Herrick after he met his inspiration, Lucy.  She showed up on his doorstep one day and refused to take no for an answer.  Herrick graciously allowed Lucy into his home.  Days later, she gifted him with five puppies!

This got Herrick thinking about the problem of pet overpopulation.  According to the Lucy Pet Products website, "Over 80,000 dogs and cats are euthanized weekly in the U.S. due to overpopulation."  He decided that he wanted to do something to change this horrible statistic, so he created Lucy Pet Products and the Lucy Pet Foundation.

Aside from creating amazing products, such as shampoos, conditioners and cat litter, Herrick took it a step further.  "*Net profits from the sales of Lucy Pet Products go to help fund the Lucy Pet Foundation, whose mission is to reduce pet overpopulation through mobile Spay and Neuter clinics as well as funding other animal related welfare organizations." (www.lucypetproducts.com)

We were very excited to try the Surfin' Jack Moisturizing Coconut shampoo on our differently-abled pooches, Penny and Hope.  I loved how the shampoo easily lathered in my hands.  A little truly goes a long way.  Other products we have tried simply create massive amounts of bubbles, but hardly any lather to work with.  Not true with Surfin' Jack!

The texture of the shampoo is as smooth as silk.  There are no rough granules or beads.  Hope and Penny loved having the shampoo rubbed into their fur.  The shampoo contains no harsh chemicals, parabens, sulfates or phosphates.  My husband loved how easily the shampoo rinsed off.  Unlike other shampoos, there was no filmy residue left on Hope and Penny's skin.

I also love the wide assortment of scents!  My favorite is the Surfin' Jack Moisturizing Coconut Shampoo.  You will literally feel like you are at the beach.  Other scents include:

• The Big Apple Skin Soothing Apple Oatmeal Shampoo
• Purple Rain Calm and Clean Lavender Shampoo
• Blue Lightening Blueberry Brightening Shampoo
• Berry Berry Smellicious Tropical Freshening Shampoo
• Pup a Dub Dub Gentle Formula Shampoo

All of the above scents are also available as a leave in conditioner spray.  We absolutely love how easy the conditioner is to use.  Just a few sprays and our dog's fur feels as soft as cashmere.

Not only does Lucy Pet Products make fantastic shampoo and conditioner, they make amazing cat litter.  Our two kitties, Miracle and Olaf, make quite a mess of their two litter boxes.  I am embarrassed to admit that my parents have commented on the smell.  While my husband and I scoop the boxes often, the smell always seemed to linger.

Then we discovered Cats Incredible Superkittykattakalizmik Lavender kitty litter.  Not only does the litter clump better than any other kitty litter we have used, it actually has Smell Squasher technology.  This patented formula prevents ammonia from forming in the litter box.  What does this mean?  No more smell!

At BarkWorld, we met Litter Box Bob who let us smell a litter box that had been full for five years.  FIVE YEARS!  Guess what?  We could not smell a thing!  We raced to our local Petco and managed to buy the last bag.

Cats Incredible kitty litter comes in an easy to pour bag.  Gone are the days of lifting heavy pails and spilling most of the contents on the basement floor.  But the true test was yet to come.  We asked my parents to house sit one weekend.  When we returned, they could not stop talking about how wonderful the basement smelled.

My mom wanted to know what wall plug-ins I was using.  Dad thought we might be using jars filled with scented beads.  I loved seeing the looks on their faces when I told them that we had changed the kitty litter we were using.

Miracle and Olaf love their new litter!

Ammonia not only makes the litter box smelly, it can be toxic to your cat.  We noticed that Miracle and Olaf started getting runny noses.  Olaf then became stuffy and congested.  Our vet had attributed it to a seasonal cold.  Thanks to the wonderful Lucy Pet Products representatives, we learned that the ammonia in our cat litter was causing our kitty's nasal problems!  Since making the switch to Cats Incredible, Miracle and Olaf have been sniffle and congestion free.

Lucy Pet Products is an outstanding company with wonderful products.  Their passion for animals and their well-being is evident in all that they do. I proudly support the Lucy Pet Foundation and highly recommend their products to pet parents everywhere.

To learn more about Lucy Pet Products and the Lucy Pet Foundation, please visit their official website at:  www.lucypetproducts.com.

*Net profits are profits after operating expenses, interest and taxes.

Tips for Parents of Differently-abled Pets

I never thought that we would be the owners of four differently-abled animals.  In fact, we did not even know that one of our fur babies was differently-abled until the day that we adopted her.  Adriel, a short-haired Chihuahua, always had her tongue sticking out in every single photo on her Petfinder.com profile page.  I thought it was a bit odd that the photographer managed to capture her in mid-lick each time.

Eagerly, I raced into Petco to officially make Adriel a part of our family.  I completely melted when the adoption coordinator from St. Louis Senior Dog Rescue placed her into my arms.  She was absolutely adorable!  As I proudly walked up and down the aisles of supplies, a woman approached.  She was actually a vet who had volunteered to come out to the adoption event to help answer any questions that new pet parents may have. 

"Oh, looks like this little one doesn't have any teeth," she commented.

Adriel remained frozen in my arms as the vet opened her mouth.

"Well, she actually has all of her teeth, but her tongue is longer than her head," the vet stated.

This explained why her tongue was always sticking out in the photos!  Little did I know that Adriel was to be the gateway pet for our other differently-abled fur babies...

Adriel strikes a pose in her pet bed.

In September of 2011, we adopted our amazing Chiweenie, Penny.  She was born with a severe overbite and a differently-formed front left leg.  The leg looks very similar to a lobster claw and has two "toes."  Penny loves to wave "the stump" when she gets excited.  We even nicknamed her Peace Sign Penny because she looks like she is flashing the peace sign.

 Penny is one fun-loving tripod!

We then adopted Hope in February of 2014.  She is a mini double dapple Dachshund.  The product of a backyard breeder, Hope was born without eyes and is completely deaf.  She uses her snout to navigate her way through life and has truly earned the nickname of Queen Ween.

Hope loves to play in the sun.

Our final differently-abled animal is our cat, Olaf.  He was found on the streets of St. Louis as a week old kitten.  Apparently, he got scratched across his left eye.  He still has sight in the left eye, but cannot see through the permanent scratch scar.  This doesn't stop him from racing his kitty sister, Miracle, to the top of the cat tower!

Olaf channels his inner Grumpy Cat.

We have developed quite a passion for rescuing differently-abled animals.  While attending the BarkWorld 2016 expo in Atlanta, GA, I had the extreme pleasure of meeting (and becoming friends with) Alyona DelaCoeur.  She is the owner of the amazing website Why Does My Dog? (www.whydoesmydog.com).

Aly was intrigued by our furry crew and wondered if I had any tips for pet parents in regards to differently-abled animals.  Here are my top 10 tips to enjoying an amazing life with your special needs fur baby:

1. Since Hope is blind, we had a terrible time of her snatching treats from our hand.  We certainly do not want anyone getting bit!  Now, whenever we are about to give Hope a treat, we lightly tap her nose.  This makes her aware of our presence as opposed to simply thrusting a treat in front of her snout where she would be more likely to nip and grab.  Once we have tapped her nose, we have her full attention.  She then eagerly waits for the treat to be given.  Hope now always associates a tap on the snout with being given a treat.  #nomorenip

2. Be very mindful of stairs.  We have stairs that lead from our kitchen down to our basement.  We ALWAYS leave the door closed.  This prevents Hope from accidentally falling down the stairs or worse, getting knocked down the stairs by her overly-active fur siblings.  If you do not have a door by your steps, you might want to consider purchasing a pet or baby gate.  The gates come in all shapes, styles and sizes.  We actually have two, one is wooden and the other is plastic.

Be sure to read all of the instructions that come with each gate to avoid potential injury to your pet.  I also strongly advise placing the gate flush with the floor.  Hope likes to wiggle underneath the gate if given the opportunity.

3.  Avoid placing sharp or pointy items on the floor. This is especially true for any decorations that may be made of wood or metal.  Hope typically navigates the house like a Queen Ween, but she does have bad days where she runs into everything.  And this is even truer if she is excited.  We take great care in making sure that our home decor is pet friendly.  While Hope cannot poke an eye out, she can injure her eye sockets, nose, face, etc.  Any items that could be viewed as hazardous to your pet's safety should be placed on an elevated surface where your pet cannot reach.

4. If you have multiple dogs like we do, make sure to monitor meal time.  Domino, another cheeky Chihuahua, likes to steal food from Hope if she doesn't eat fast enough.  This has the potential to create fights.  For this reason, we feed each dog in a separate room of the house.  This way, each dog can take his/her time when eating and will not feel the need to guard his/her dish.

5.  Consider starting your tripod pet on a joint supplement.  Since Penny has a differently-formed paw, she is perpetually off balance.  She places all of her weight on her front right leg (a.k.a. The Super Paw).  This paw is much larger than her back paws because she has to rely on it for stability.  We began giving her a joint supplement because we found out from our vet that tripod animals are more likely to develop arthritis in their hips and other joints.  The supplements come in a variety of forms:  liquid, capsules, chewables, etc.  Penny loves the beef flavor and happily gobbles up her tablet every day.

6. If you have a blind dog, consider purchasing a Muffin's Halo.  The halo is attached to a harness that the dog wears like a vest.  The halo then acts as a barrier preventing your blind pooch from running into potentially dangerous items.  Wearing the halo can actually re-build the dog's confidence and help him/her live a happier life.  To learn more about Muffin's Halo, visit www.muffinshalo.com.

7. Purchase a set of pet stairs.  We actually bought a set for our oldest dog, Theo.  He has lost sight in one eye, making jumping onto the couch nearly impossible.  Oddly enough, the first dog to use the pet stairs was Hope!  The stairs are also helpful for Penny.  While she can easily jump onto and off of the furniture, using the pet stairs is easier on her joints.

8.  Consider purchasing custom collars and leashes that easily denote your dog's condition.  We purchased a leash for Hope that says BLIND DOG.  This alerts others who may want to approach your pet that they should do so with caution.  The leashes come in a variety of colors that also denote if your dog is approachable, shy, etc.  Our leash has proved very useful at the numerous pet events that we attend.  Children usually run up and try to pet our dogs without asking.  When their parents see the leash, they take notice.  We are then able to have the children calmly approach Hope and give her the attention that she craves.

9.  Invest in a Cuddle Cave.  My husband and I discovered the Cuddle Cave at a local pet expo.  The vendor made items specifically for Dachshunds.  She claimed that all doxies love the Cuddle Cave.  I was skeptical, but thought it would be worth a try if it made Hope more comfortable.  She absolutely LOVES her Cuddle Cave!  In fact, she begs to be placed inside.  The Cuddle Cave actually looks like a bag.  The dog enters the cave and then hunkers down, surrounded by the soft, comfy interior.  We have found that the cave provides security for Hope.  She feels safe and protected from our other dogs.  This could be the reason why she always falls asleep in the cave.  Larger versions are available at your local Petsmart, Petco, etc.  You can also search Etsy for more customizable options.

10.  My final tip is to treat your differntly-abled pet like a "normal" pet!  We thought that each of our special fur babies would need extra care and accommodations.  We were wrong!  Penny does not need to be picked up and placed onto the furniture.  She can jump on and off by herself.  Hope does not need to be carried in her special weenie pouch every day.  She wants to explore the world through her own four paws (with a little help from her snout).  Remember, differently-abled does not mean disabled.

I hope that you have found these tips to be helpful.  If you have any additional questions about differently-abled animals, please don't hesitate to ask.  Send your questions to: theuerkaufstails@gmail.com or simply comment on this post.  Different is Beautiful!

BarkWorld Expo 2016

My suitcase had been packed for two weeks.  I meticulously planned each outfit down to what jewelry I would be wearing.  Now the day that I had circled on my calendar had finally arrived.

As we began our eight hour car drive to Atlanta, Georgia, I started to imagine what BarkWorld would be like.  Would there be dogs as far as the eye can see?  Would I actually be able to hobnob with celebrities?

 We checked into our hotel and decided to grab some lunch.  Afterwords, we headed to the Loews Hotel to get registered for BarkWorld.  We received our badges and an epic swag bag.

My official BarkWorld badge!

Check out all of the amazing items in our swag bags!

The first event to be held was Bark in the City.  We were able to dine out on the terrace of the Loews Hotel with other expansion pass holders and their pooches.

 

 

 

I was so excited to see my favorite blogging dog, Preston!

I melted when I met Max!  Look at that underbite!

Meet Echo!  This adorable husky was a perfect gentleman.

Mango is a certified therapy dog with TDI!

On Thursday, we started bright and early with a tour of the CNN building.  Having majored in Mass Communications-Journalism, I loved every minute!

 Live from CNN, it's Lauren!

This is an actual set from inside a studio at CNN.

After lunch, we headed back to the Loews Hotel for BarkBites, a speed-dating session for brands and influencers.  It was fast-paced, but we met some amazing people and learned about some truly philanthropic companies.  Shorty Rossi then took the stage with his amazing Pitbull, Francis!

 Shorty and Francis were awesome!

Bark's Nite Out was a fun dining event where we got to meet even more fabulous pet influencers and, of course, more dogs!

 Cocoa the Chihuahua could not be any more adorable in that tutu!

 This pooch was rescued from Sochi!  He has an issue with one of his back legs, but you would never know it!

 It's Instagram sensation Leona the Lion!

 Check out Louie rocking that sweater!

I always love meeting wheelchair doxies!

Friday was a marathon of keynote speakers.  It was exhausting, but I learned so much!

I was beyond honored to do a book swap with Seth Casteel!

Forget posing with cats!  Travis DesLauier posed with a copy of Priceless Penny!

Aly from Why Does My Dog is a fantastic speaker and an awesome person!

Meeting Deirdre from Pinups for Pitbulls was amazing!  Her passion for Pitbulls is contagious and she is an amazing speaker!

We then took a break to support Tomlyn Products.  They are going to send a case of their product to dogs serving in the armed forces for every photo they are tagged in.

After dinner, we were treated to a private screening of the ASPCA's Second Chance Dogs!  I only cried at the end.

On Saturday, we listened to more fabulous keynote speakers.  They were hilarious as well as informative.

I was beyond excited to meet Brian Fanzo!  He even flashed the signature peace sign in honor of Priceless Penny!

Meeting Nala cat's parents was amazing!

I loved listening to presenters Bryan Kramer and Daniel Lemin.

Hamming it up with Shorty and Francis.

I am proud to be a Rescue Hero and support Halo Pets!

April and Binky are from Happy Tabby Cat Cafe right in Atlanta!

 

I was sad to see the conference end.  I was blessed to make so many new friends who also have a passion for rescuing animals.  All of the celebrities that I met were so friendly and down to earth.  We will definitely be back next year!

This is exactly how I felt at the end of BarkWorld!

 

Priceless Penny Book Signing

Penny and I were honored to attend a book signing event for Priceless Penny hosted by the fabulous staff at The Bookworm book store in Carbondale, Illinois!  It may have been raining that day, but nothing could keep true Penny fans away!  Check out photos from the event below.

 Check out the awesome sign on the door of The Bookworm!

Penny took some time to relax after pawtographing.

Penny and I were so excited to be at The Bookworm!

 

 Penny and I love meeting our readers!

Signing books is so much fun!

 Penny even made friends with the store cat, Casper!

It was love at first sniff!

 

We loved the fantastic table sign that the staff at The Bookworm made for us!

Book Trailer: Priceless Penny

Sniffer & Tinni: A True Tale of Amazing Animal Friendship Book Review

Prepare to be taken on an amazing journey of friendship in Sniffer & Tinni: A True Tale of Amazing Animal Friendship by Berit Helberg.  Torgeir Berge and his German shepard, Tinni, loved to go for walks by the forest.  During one such walk, something emerged from the bushes.

A startled Tinni soon discovered that it was a baby fox!  The fearless fox thought that Tinni would make the perfect playmate...and quickly pounced on her.  After having his fun, Tinni and Torgeir headed for home.

A few days later, Tinni and Torgeir went back to the spot where they had met the baby fox.  Sure enough, the fox popped out of the forest ready to play with his new friends.  Torgeir was concerned about the fox and knew that the babe should not be without his mother.  Torgeir decided to leave food for the fox to make sure that he would not starve.

Tinni and Torgeir began to visit the fox every day.  Torgeir even gave the fox a name:  Sniffer.  Sniffer and Tinni's friendship continued to grow, but would their obvious differences come between this dynamic duo?

This is officially my new favorite children's picture book!  The photographs by Torgeir Berge are absolutely stunning!  The reader can actually see the friendship between Tinni and Sniffer unfolding.  I am always drawn to true stories, which makes this book even more fantastic for me.

I was greatly reminded of the Walt Disney classic  The Fox and the Hound.  The relationship between Tinni and Sniffer is truly reminiscent of the bond between Copper and Todd.  I am very glad that Torgeir encouraged this unique friendship and was able to capture it on film.

I would highly recommend this book to readers, animal lovers and photographers of all ages.  Readers will easily become swept away by the amazing adventures of Tinni and Sniffer.  This story is sure to become a new children's classic.

Bob the Dog Book Review

In Bob the Dog by Rodrigo Folgueira, a little boy named Mark takes his dog Bob out for a romp in the park. They are having such a wonderful time! The pair are laughing and running without a care...until a tiny canary flies into Bob's mouth.

Bob is beside himself with guilt. He cannot believe that he has just eaten a bird! Mark soon discovers that the canary (named Jeremy) is alive and well...and hiding from something.

Mark enlists the help of his woodland friends Roger the Rabbit, Cathy the Cat and Oscar the Owl. Surly, they can come up with a way to get Jeremy out of Bob's stomach. But what if they can't? Will Jeremy be forced to live in Bob's tummy forever?

I absolutely love Poly Bernatene's illustrations! They are both whimsical and adorable. I especially love all of Bob's facial expressions. I also love how Bernatene uses mixed media throughout the book, such as hiding pages from other books within the illustrations. Adding a pawtographed photo of Lassie to Bob's dog house was a very cute (and hilarious) touch.

While I greatly enjoyed the ending, I felt that the resolution to the story came a bit too quickly. I feel that the story could have been flushed out for a least four more pages. Overall, this is a fun read for the emergent reader.

The Grumpy Pets Book Review

In The Grumpy Pets by Kristine A. Lombardi, Billy is on the quest to find the perfect pet.  His search begins at Perfect Pets Animal Rescue.  He sees tons of adorable dogs and cats but they are all too....happy.

Billy unhappily watches as the other children meet and adopt their perfect pets.  He is ready to give up when he hears a noise from a back room at the shelter.  Upon entering the room, Billy discovers that it is filled with...grumpy pets!  Could one of these animals be Billy's perfect match?

I found this story to be a very entertaining read.  The illustrations are simplistic, yet charming.  I especially love how Lombardi puts so much emphasis on the facial expressions of both the humans and the animals.  My absolute favorite illustration is where Lombardi has made the pets to look like their owners.  Hilarious!

This story has captured my heart for many reasons.  I love that Lombardi made Perfect Pets an animal rescue instead of a pet store.  Being a huge animal advocate/rescuer, I am thrilled that she is shedding light on the importance of adopting from local animal rescue groups and shelters.

I found the characters in the story very easy to relate to.  We all know a person like Sara, that perpetual optimist that refuses to see anything but the bright side.  And we all have our Billy days when we just cannot shake a case of the grumps.

What I loved most about the story is the dual theme of being misunderstood.  Not only was Billy viewed as being "grumpy," so were the pets at the back of the shelter.  Often times, rescued animals have had very difficult lives with heartbreaking stories of abuse and neglect.  They become fearful of humans and are labeled as "unadoptable."  What these animals need most is love, kindness and understanding.

Through the pure heart of a child, Billy was able to see through the facade of the grumpy pets to the very soul of these broken creatures.  In reading the story, I began to wonder if Billy might have some form of Autism.  Children with Autism are often misunderstood, which can be quite frustrating for the affected child.  Pets are a fantastic way of bringing people of all ages out of their shells.  From therapy to service dogs, these pooches are making huge differences in lives around the world.

This is a fantastic read that is sure to please children and animal lovers of all ages.

Teddy the Dog: Be Your Own Dog Book Review

Grab your sunglasses and prepare for adventure of catastrophic proportions!  In Teddy the Dog:  Be Your Own Dog by Keri Claiborne Boyle, we meet the leader of the pack himself...Teddy.  He is living the dream life while following his own personal motto of "Be you own dog."

One day, Teddy receives a mysterious package from his Aunt Marge.  He cannot believe his eyes when a cat jumps out of the box!  His world is completely turned upside down.

Teddy decides to teach Fishbreath everything he knows about being his own dog.  Much to his dismay, Fishbreath is not skilled at doing dog-like things.  Daring to think outside the box, Teddy tries his paw at becoming more cat-like.  He soon discovers that the feline life is not for him.  Will Teddy and Fishbreath ever be able to find common ground?

I simply adored this book from start to finish!  The illustrations by Jonathan Sneider are adorable and hilarious.  I especially love the illustration of Teddy and his friends at the local food cart.  The poodle with the empty hot dog bun cracks me up!

This is author Keri Claiborne Boyle's debut children's book and I think she has definitely knocked it out of the park.  The theme of being true to oneself is told beautiful through the eyes of Teddy and Fishbreath.  Each character tries their paw at being something that they're not.  In doing so, they find out that they can still be friends even if they are different.

I also loved the humor that is laced throughout the story.  From "...holy purple poodles..." to Teddy and Fishbreath's paw bump on the final page, I found myself laughing out loud with the turn of each page.  This is a wonderful story for animal lovers of all ages that is sure to become a treasured classic.

Wolf Camp Book Review

"Wolf Camp" by Andrea Zuill tells that tale of Homer, a dog that feels like he is a wolf.  He enjoys doing wolfish things, such as hunting his stuffed moose and howling at the moon.  While eating breakfast one day, Homer receives an invitation to attend Wolf Camp.

Through his persistent begging, Homer's family agrees to let him go to camp.  He can barely contain his excitement as he boards the bus with his fellow campers.  Homer soon finds out that being a wolf is very different from how he thought it would be.  Will he have the courage to stay at camp and become an honorary wolf?

This book has officially become one of my all time favorite children's books!  The illustrations are adorably heartwarming.  I fell in love with Homer the moment I saw the cover of the book!  Many of the illustrations remind me of some of my favorite childhood cartoons.

I greatly enjoyed that humor that is laced throughout the story.  From the subtle jokes on the professor's chalkboard to Pixie's moose hunting, I laughed and smiled the entire time I read this story.  Readers and animal lovers of all ages will be enchanted with this story.  I know that this book is destined to become a new children's classic.

Love Is My Favorite Thing Book Review

"Love Is My Favorite Thing" by Emma Chichester Clark is a charming children's book starring the adorable dog, Plum.  "Plummie" as she is called by her parents, introduces the reader to all of the things that she loves:  wind, treats, sticks, etc.  But her favorite thing of all is love.

On a trip to the park one day, everything goes terribly wrong.  Plum soon finds herself torn between causing mischief and wanting to be a good girl.  Will Plummie's crazy antics cost her the love of her family and friends?

I absolutely loved this book!  The illustrations are simplistic, yet whimsical.  I fell in love with Plum from page one.  Her expressions are priceless and truly capture the essence of dogs everywhere (especially mine!).  I also love Clark's use of soft colors.

Clark's talent as a writer truly shines in this multi-themed story.  The most obvious theme is that of an unconditional love between parent and child (or dog in this case).  No matter what a child does, a parent's love will always be there to guide and protect them.  The second more subtle theme is learning the value of obeying one's parents.  Plum knew that she was not supposed to get into mischief, but ignored her parent's rules.  Had she done as she was told, she would not have had to worry or wonder if her parents still loved her.

This book is a fantastic read for dog lovers of all ages.  The story allows reader's to take a peek into the mind of Plum, which may help us to better understand why dogs do the things that they do.  I can definitely see some of my dogs in Plum! 

Priceless Penny Children's Book Released!

I will never forget the day that my husband and I saw Penny, our tripawd Chiweenie, scale our three foot pet gate.  Bravely, she hooked her "stump" onto the top of the gate and used her back legs to propel herself into the center of the living room.  We were amazed!

My husband told me later that day that I should write a children's book about Penny.  I have to admit, I did not take him seriously.  But the more I thought about it, the more I felt like it was something I needed to do.  Beyond sharing Penny's amazing adoption journey with others, I want to inspire differently-abled people (especially children).

What I thought would be a quick side project turned into a two year journey of my own.  I never realized how much work goes into actually creating and publishing a single book!

We held the official book launch party for "Priceless Penny" at Stray Rescue St. Louis last Saturday.  As my husband and I are huge animal lovers, we donated 40% of the funds raised from the sale of Penny's book that day to Stray Rescue so that they can continue to do their amazing, life saving work.
I was extremely touched by the outpouring of love and support from those that attended the party.  Compete strangers were thanking me for writing Penny's story.  Those meeting Penny for the first time were stunned when Penny decided to jump into a nearby chair.

We are so blessed to have Penny in our lives!  Together, we hope to show that world that different is beautiful!  And as always, tripawds rock!

                             The cover of Penny's book!

Penny being held by her "Nawnee" and me in my custom "Keep Calm and Love a Tripod" t-shirt at her official book launch party at Stray Rescue St. Louis!

This is Cynthia, the woman who rescued Penny.  We are so thankful she did!

                                                         Penny enjoying snuggles with her new friends.

My friend, Dawn, stopped by to show Penny some love.

                 Different is Beautiful!  #tripawdsrock