Books

By Here from Joann
Mom's Choice Award

Make Room For Jasper

Awarded the Mom's Choice Gold Award

Fergie just got a new home. She has a sister that’s not real happy she’s around and Fergie starts to get bored. Mom knows just how to fix this. Read along as Fergie learns about love and friendship.

 

Reviews

A Must Read
A Must Read
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"Another life lesson touched upon is differences amongst friends and family. This is a light way to introduce diversity and individual uniqueness to children. Jasper and Fergie may be opposites but Fergie learns to see those differences as things to accept and love about Jasper. This book is absolutely worth sharing with families preparing for big changes to help little minds adapt and adjust."
Michelle Bitzer Walgren
Michelle Bitzer WalgrenM. Ed.
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Joann is a talented dog trainer who has shared her love of dogs with the beautifully written story about belonging, being accepted, and finding a new friend. Joann’s writing helps you identify with Fergie’s desire for a friend but finds out a friend can become family. This is a must-read for any reader who loves dogs!
Sara Goudge, MA
Sara Goudge, MALicensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), child/adolescent therapist, mom of 3
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Make Room for Jasper is a fun, non-preachy way to begin a discussion on blending families! I love that the story flows naturally and doesn’t come across as a stilted narrative trying to too hard to get its lesson heard. Instead, it teaches kids in the way they learn, through fun, expressive pictures and a story with meaning and depth beyond the words on the page. My three kids (five, three, and one) loved it and are already asking for more stories about Jasper and Fergie!
Debbie Plude
Debbie Pludedaycare owner
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This is a charming children's book written by Joann, a devoted dog mom and trainer. She tells a story of love and trust between a dog and her owner and shows that when they listen to each other, good things happen. Joann shows there is always room in your heart to love one more.
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Meet the characters

Fergie, Jasper, and Coco are real dogs and this is their real story. Meet the dogs

Fergie

This is Fergie at a few weeks old (top) and the bottom is when she was about 4 years old.  

Fergie is a Briard. She is intelligent, loyal, protective and very loving. She is also the one who plays “momma” to the other dogs when I’m not home.

As the book says, she fell in love with Jasper at first sight and they were inseperable.

Jasper

Image of Jasper on the sofa

Jasper was a large Great Dane. He was one of two dogs left when we went to pick out a brother for Fergie. Joey was the one I preferred, but he was smaller and not as out-going. Fergie showed absolutely no interest in him and immediately ran toward Jasper. Jasper’s breeder explained that he wasn’t much a of a player with his littermates but you couldn’t tell that by the way he and Fergie carried on.

Jasper was a larger Great Dane. Although he was very tall, he never got over 140 pounds.  He was as gentle as they came and gravitated toward kids. They would always rush to meet him and he would always oblige. 

He was the protector and would always keep an eye on the horizon when Fergie was out playing in the yard.  A better soul you would be hard-pressed to find.

Coco

Coco was a 14 year old Lab / Australian Shepherd when Fergie was brought home. She had many health problems but was always the nurse of the dogs. She would always be the first to let me know someone was sick or not feeling well.

Because she was so old and ill, she never really wanted a rambunctious puppy around and tolerated her the best she could. 

Coco lived to an extraordinary old age of almost 17 years old

By Here from Joann

The Imperfectly Perfect Puppy

Book two in the Life Lessons from Dogs series, The Imperfectly Perfect Puppy introduces us to Trixie. She is a Bernese Mountain dog with a story to inspire us all.

Trixie was born with several health issues. She was the smallest of the litter, had a hard time feeding and she was blind; and not just blind as all puppies were blind, he eyes never saw as she started to grow.

However, Trixie had an indomitable spirit and never gave up. It was heartbreaking at times to see her struggle, but she prevailed and after months, miraculously her sight returned. She did have quite a few obstacles yet to overcome. 

This is her story with a twist at the ending. Your child has a page all his/her own in the back of the book for him/her to write what Trixie will do next. They have a space to use their imagination and finish the story.

 

Meet Trixie

Trixie is one of the sweetest dogs you would ever meet. Lover of life and willing to explore.  She was always that way despite the challenges that faced her as she was just starting her young life.

Trixie was born completely blind. She was also unable to feed properly and had to be bottle-fed. However, she learned quickly how to get around her whelping box and later her play area. 

Because she was so little, she had to be separated for times from her siblings who were much bigger and tended to trample her in their exuberance to play. 

Early on, when she was removed from her playpen and didn’t have the benefit of hearing other pups or people, Trixie would cower on the floor almost paralyzed to move in one direction or the other. However, if you put her in the yard with her siblings, she would target the sound and join in the games as much as she could. She was not one to be denied a good time.

As she grew, her sight started to return. At about 4 months old, she could see perfectly. Now the hard work began. She had to adjust not only to seeing, but how to build up her rear leg muscles to do everything she wanted to do. It took a long time. In fact she is still working on fine-tuning her movements, but when she wants to do something, very little stops her.

What people say

"Children will grow to love Trixie and root for her as she struggles with being the runt of the litter. My nine- year old daughter said "5 out of 5 stars!" and thought that kids ages 7 through adults age 90 should read the book. Parents will turn the pages as they read to their children and wonder how Trixie overcomes her challenges. This book teaches kids to have empathy for the weak and see the value of those who do not have the abilities of their peers. A great book, and must read for those families who want to get a puppy, a dog from a shelter, or foster a dog that has physical challenges -- or for those who just love puppies!"
Laura Schultz
Creatively written, beautifully illustrated book for young children. So much fun to follow the growing and learning of both owner and beautiful little pup. Great insight and life lesson for young readers to the challenging life of a perfectly imperfect little one. Well done!!!
Nancy Jennissen
The Imperfectly Perfect Puppy is a cute story discussing differences, acceptance, and resilience. Trixie, the endearing puppy, uses her human connections and perseverance to meet milestones and find a way to thrive. Trixie’s story is told through a soft, supportive narrative. The story is thoughtful and the message comes across in the undertones. My kids and I all loved hearing about Trixie and her victories. We’re hopeful we can hear more about Trixie’s adventures in the future!
Brooke Flemming
The Imperfectly Perfect Puppy will bring a smile! As a therapist, mom and grandma, I always appreciate a story that shares the emotions and challenges of life. Trixie's story teaches us the value of compassion and perseverance to face a disability, fear of the unknown or doubt in our own capabilities. She encourages us to meet these moments with a little help from our friends and find joy in the journey. Even as we flounder a bit like Trixie, may we all find the beauty and purpose in our very own "Super Power".
Teri Struthers, M.A., LPCC
What a beautiful, heartwarming story! I absolutely fell in love with Trixie as she learned and grew and overcame obstacle after obstacle. It's an inspirational tale of perseverance and individuality that will delight young readers.
Katy Morgan, retired elementary teacher
I really enjoyed the meaning behind this story because it can help show kids that even if they are “different” or have special abilities, that they are unique and that makes them awesome! Being unique is something worth celebrating and Trixie does a great job of celebrating her unique life everyday!
Carrie Rawson
Thoughtfully written true story about celebrating a dog’s (person’s) unique abilities to bring joy to another’s life. This story may help children gain a clearer understanding of how our differences work together for good. Joann’s compassion comes shining through in every word.
Lisa Luke, OTR/LPediatric Occupational Therapist, Early Childhood Special, Education
Trixie’s story is one of resilience. Despite her struggles, she is loved and has support for all of her differences. This gives her the courage to keep trying and get more comfortable with things that were scary at first. Many kids can identify with apprehension about trying new things or meeting new people, and watching Trixie gain confidence in her new skills can give them hope that they can achieve the same. Mom identifying Trixie’s super power of helping others is another gem, as young children often wish they had super powers, and this reframing of something so inherent in Trixie’s personality shows that we all have hidden powers, if only we take a step back and look. Joann has produced another fun story, with an engaging narrative that presents resilience, acceptance and love in a concrete way that children can understand.
Sara Goudge MA, LPCC,Child/Adolescent Therapist, Mom of three
The Imperfectly Perfect Puppy, (The story of Trixie the Bernese Mountain dog who triumphed) carries an important message for all of us. Despite the challenges we may face, when we are given love and support and encouraged to do our best, our super powers come through. The story and the illustrations are engaging and endearing and teach children to do their best and also be supportive and inclusive of others. Highly recommended for all children!
Annmarie Cantrell, MEd
I love Joann's dog-lover twist on children's books! Her second book about Trixie, the imperfectly perfect Bernese Mountain Dog, is heartwarming and uplifting. While enjoying this charming book, our kids will learn that we must persevere, we can overcome all challenges, and we all have weaknesses and our own "super powers". We are all perfectly us!! Joann's books are fun, beautifully written and illustrated, and have the positive tone we all need!!
Sue Huffman
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By Here from Joann

Belle Understands!

As with all my books, there is always something personal in them. This is no exception. In fact, this probably is the most personal of all.

The main character, Belle, the Golden Retriever, is really the personification of my daughter, Jenn. From a very young age, Jenn knew how to get what she wanted. She never bent to peer pressure and was always her own person. 

I often recount the story of her going to a party. The kids at the party wanted to smoke and Jenn not wanting to, took a walk around the block and just returned when it was all over. She never put her friends down for something she thought was not appropriate, she never lost a friend over something she didn’t agree with, and she never did something she didn’t want to do.

Belle, is the name of her current dog. What a better way to tell Jenn’s story.

 

Jenn and Belle

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