I’d like to welcome the magnificent Kate Klimo to Best Dog Books today!

What is the title of your book? Pub date and publisher?

Dog Diaries #3: Barry, September 2013, Penguin Random House Books for Young Readers

Who is your key dog character? Tell us about him/her.

Barry, the legendary mastiff of the high Alps who was said to have rescued somewhere between 40 and 100 people from snow and fog.

In 70 words or less, provide a succinct plot description of your story.

This is a memoir told by Barry, a mastiff-type dog who lived 8000 feet above sea level in the western Alps, in the Hospice of St. Bernard, which was dedicated to offering aid and comfort to travellers in what has to be one of the world’s most unhospitable spots. As a puppy, Barry is held in the arms of Napoleon, when “the little colonel” and his army trek over the Alps from France to Italy. Napoleon wants to buy Barry and rear him up to be a war dog, but the monks won’t sell him. Barry is meant to help the monks and their lay companions in their rescue missions. Barry winds up being the most heroic of all the hospice hounds, rescuing skiers trapped by avalanches, merchants lost in the fog, and even a small child he tracks down to a cave.

What inspired you to write this story?

The attributes of snow rescue dogs have always struck me as nigh on to uncanny. Here is a dog who can sense an avalanche even before it happens, who can scent people buried 10 feet below the snow and icy rubble, who can lie next to cold and wounded traveller and warm him with its body. In short: here is a marvel of skill and compassion. When Barry lived, in the early 1800s, there was no such thing as a St. Bernard dog. Thanks to Barry and other mastiffs like him, a breed was born, taking its name and from the Hospice in the high Alps.

What was the biggest challenge you had writing your story? It’s always a challenge to write about a legend. When you write about a legend you have a choice: you can make it a tall tale and play up the bigger-than-life aspects. Or you can humanize (or should I say canine-ize?) the character and try to get at the real story; the real dog that wagged the tale, so to speak. Since a fire at the Hospice burned all records, it was difficult to get at the real story, while the legend has taken on a life of its own. But with help from the curator of the Hospice museum, I was able, I hope, to make the story both thrilling and believable.

What other YA/MG books have you written? Do any of them feature a key dog character? If so, which ones? What are these stories about?

I have written an early grade series called the Dragon Keepers, about two ten-year-olds who wind up being the caretakers of a dragon named Emmy. In the first book, Emmy hides from a bad guy by “masking” as a sheepdog.

I have written a YA series called the Centauriad, which has lots of horses in it, and lots of other mythical creatures, but, so far, no dogs. Hmmmm…maybe I should reconsider.

What kind of story can we expect next from you? Is it about a dog? If so, what is it about?

I’ve just finished writing the fourth and fifth Dog Diaries, about Togo, the Siberian husky who was the real hero of the Alaskan Serum Run and Dash, the Springer spaniel who came over on the Mayflower.

What else would you like us to know about you or your story?

If ever I have to be rescued, let it be by a St. Bernard, please.

Can you remember the first book that made an impact on you? And why?

I loved the The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe so passionately that my best friend and I spent much of our grade school years desperately trying to find a portal into Narnia. I also really liked a book called The Wonderful Journey to the Mushroom Planet, about some kids who find out their neighbor is an alien. The Mrs. Pigglewiggle books introduced me to the power of humor. And the Mary Poppins books taught me that you could have a main character who isn’t even all that likable.

Thank you for joining us today at Best Dog Books, Kate Klimo.

For other great books about dogs, check out 101 Best Dog Books for Kids.

For published authors and unpublished authors, check out our writing contests.

Best Dog Books is honored to invite Phyllis Naylor, the Newbery author of Shiloh.

Best Dog Books: Who is your key dog character and what kind of dog is he/she? Tell us a little more about him/her.

Shiloh is a mixed breed who resembles a beagle in coloring.  In the story, she is an abused dog who runs away from her legal owner and takes refuge with an eleven year old boy.

Best Dog Books: Tell us about your story, Shiloh.

When Shiloh runs away the second time, Marty Preston builds a little shelter for her in the woods, and secretly brings part of his own dinner to her, unknown to his family.  The parents, scraping by to pay for a grandmother in a nursing home, feel they cannot afford pets, and when a German shepherd leaps into the enclosure and wounds Shiloh, who cannot escape, the secret is out, and Marty is faced with returning the dog to her legal owner, or finding out a way to keep  Shiloh for his own.

Best Dog Books: What inspired you to write Shiloh?

I came across the little dog who inspired the book in Shiloh, West Virginia, when we were visiting college friends of my husband’s.  I was so taken with this little skinny, tick-ridden, hungry, and desperately frightened dog that I knew, when we left for home, that I was going to put all my writing projects away and write a novel about her.

Best Dog Books: What was the biggest challenge you had writing Shiloh? How did you overcome it?

Even after Marty works for Judd Travers, the abusive owner of hunting dogs, and finally pays off the price for buying Shiloh from him, it doesn’t guarantee that the angry Judd, mistreated himself as a boy, will not come across Shiloh alone in the woods sometime and, while drunk, shoot him.  To solve this, I had to write two sequels, Shiloh Season, and Saving Shiloh, and in the final book, I think I’ve convinced the reader that Judd is at peace with the fact that Shiloh has a new owner, and that he, himself, has changed.

Best Dog Books: What other YA/MG books have you written that feature or will feature a key dog character? 

I’ve been writing full time since 1960, and have written over 140 books, so it’s difficult to remember if any of the others contained a dog.  I don’t think so–the three Shiloh books have said it all.  It’s hard to include a dog in a book and not let it become the main character!

Best Dog Books: What else would you like us to know about you or your story, Shiloh?

Our friends in West Virginia finally adopted the dog I had discovered along the creek there and named her Clover.  They didn’t know I was writing a book about her until they wrote us sometime later to say that they had taken the dog in.  Once I won the Newbery, they did, on request, take her around to schools and libraries so that children could see the “real Shiloh.”  They would place her on a library table beside a stamp pad, and the kids would line up with their copies of Shiloh.  My friends would take one of her paws, press it on the stamp pad, and “pawtograph” each book.  I asked how that frightened little dog reacted, and they said she really loved all the attention. But after about 30 pawtographs, she would simply lie down, roll over, and hold one paw in the air, as if to say, “Go ahead and use my paw, but I’m going to take a nap.”

Best Dog Books: Can you remember the first book that made an impact on you? And why?

Huckleberry Finn, because my father read it aloud to us with great expression, and Huck faces a similar challenge in that book, which may be where I subconsciously got the idea for Shiloh–he has to choose between obeying the law–returning the slave to its rightful owner, or doing what his conscience tells him to do.

Best Dog Books: What was it like to win the Newbery Medal?

Incredible!  Many authors have some idea in advance that their book is on the short list for the Newbery, but I did not.  The title was never mentioned in any journal predicting the winner.  When I received the call in the early morning, I was eating my cereal, and afterwards, hanging up, my cats went on sunning themselves as though nothing had happened.  Then the phone rang again–the Today Show–telling me I needed to get to New York that night for the show the next morning, and after that, everything was bedlam.

To learn more about Phyllis Naylor or find other books she’s written, please click here.

Thank you for your time, Phyllis Naylor, at Best Dog Books!!

Please be sure to check out the Shiloh movies!

For other great books about dogs, check out 101 Best Dog Books for Kids.

For published authors and unpublished authors, check out our writing contests.

I’d like to welcome Leslie Helakoski to Best Dog Books today.

AOB: What is the title of your book? Pub date and publisher? Genre? Targeted age group? Illustrator?

Doggone Feet!  Published by Boyds Mills Press, March 2013, ages 4-8, Author is also illustrator

AOB: Who is your key dog character and what kind of dog is he/she? Tell us a little more about him/her.

* This story is told from a dog’s point of view starting with being a stray in the park and following a pair of legs home. The dog’s job is to keep the floor under Leg’s table clean.

AOB: In 70 words or less, provide a succinct plot description of your story.

* Doggone Feet! shares a dog’s point of view from under the kitchen table where she reluctantly comes to appreciate all the feet that appear there as her family grows.

AOB: Reviews or blurbs you wish to share:

From International Reading Association: Because readers don’t see the upper half of the humans until near the end of the book, the dog’s point of view is enhanced. Having the illustrations and the text originate from a dog’s perspective adds to this book’s uniqueness.

From School Library Journal:  Large, bright acrylic illustrations fill each spread, conveying the familiar situation of family life with an exaggerated style. Children will giggle at the silly dog’s point of view, but will appreciate the sentimental idea of a growing family.

AOB: What inspired you to write this story?

*My dog always loved sitting under my kid’s chairs as they were growing up because of all the crumbs and goodies that would fall close by.

AOB: What was the biggest challenge you had writing your story? How did you overcome it?

*The text was originally twice as long and I had to cut the copy along with a lot of humorous scenes. Cutting hurts! I had to work hard to shave off unnecessary information and stick to what really moved the story along.

AOB: What other YA/MG books have you written? Do any of them feature a key dog character? If so, which ones? 

*I’ve written 7 picture books with an 8^th one coming out in spring 2014. Some titles are Big Chickens, Big Chickens Fly the Coop, Woolbur and Fair Cow. Most of my books are about farm animals but I’m working on a new idea right now that will be a big change for me.

AOB: What kind of story can we expect next from you? Is it about a dog? If so, what is it about?

*My next book, which I’ve also authored and illustrated is called BIG PIGS. It’s about pigs competing to see who is the piggiest.

AOB: What else would you like us to know about you or your story?

*Kids can relate to this story as they will recognize much of the dog behavior and relate to the feelings that come up when the focus is shifted to new family members.

AOB: Can you remember the first book that made an impact on you? And why?

*Millions of Cats by Wanda Gaag. It probably impacted me because we often had litters of kittens when I was growing up and my sisters and I would get to choose one to name and have as our own. Making a choice like that is really hard to do just like the story shows. Also the lyrical language ‘Hundreds of cats, thousands of cats, millions and billions and trillions of cats’ was just fun.

AOB: Where can readers go to find out more information about you and/or your books?

My website is helakoskibooks.com

You can find a link to a book trailer for Doggone Feet! or check out the detailed activity guide based on the Common Core State Standards.

Thank you for joining Best Dog Books, Monica Kulling!

For other great books about dogs, check out 101 Best Dog Books for Kids.

For published authors and unpublished authors, check out our writing contests.

I’d like to welcome Monica Kulling today at Best Dog Books, a blog that features interviews with authors who have written a dog book for kids.

AOB: What is the title of your book? Pub date and publisher? Genre? Targeted age group? Illustrator?

MERCI MISTER DASH; Pub. Date: 2011, Tundra Books/Random House NYC.

MISTER DASH AND THE CUPCAKE CALAMITY; Pub. Date: 2013, Tundra Books/Random House NYC.

Genre: children’s picture book; Targeted age group: 5-8 Illustrator: Esperança Melo.

AOB: Who is your key dog character and what kind of dog is he/she? Tell us a little more about him/her.

Mister Dash, a well-mannered dog of many breeds. He always puts his “best paw forward.”

AOB: In 70 words or less, provide a succinct plot description of your story.

In Merci Mister Dash! the reader is introduced to the three principal characters: Mister Dash, Madame Croissant, and granddaughter, Daphne. Mister Dash has little tolerance for Daphne’s wild ways. Still, that doesn’t prevent him from coming to the rescue when she gets into trouble.

In the companion book, Mister Dash and the Cupcake Calamity, Madame Croissant has a cupcake delivery business and Mister Dash is her delivery dog. On baking day, Daphne arrives and kitchen chaos ensues. Will they be able to meet the mayor’s large order? Or will the business go bust?

AOB: Starred reviews or blurbs you wish to share:

“Young readers will enjoy each of the three main character’s bigger-than-life personalities — and teachers may challenge students to think about which one they connect with most.” ~ Nerdy Book Club

“The ironic contrast between unruly child and peace-loving dog is great entertainment and, coupled with Melo’s lovely illustrations, makes a joyful read.” ~ Quill & Quire

“A good choice to generate discussion, this will appeal to energetic youngsters and dog lovers alike.” ~ Kirkus Reviews

AOB: What inspired you to write this story?

I was walking my two dogs in a nearby park and heard someone call out their dog’s name and it happened to be “Mister Dash” and the dog happened to be a standard poodle. I wrote the first story with that character in mind, but the first editor who saw the story said she didn’t like stories “with poodles in them.” Huh?! So I made a drastic about-face and turned Mister Dash into a dog of many breeds.

AOB: What was the biggest challenge you had writing your story? How did you overcome it?

The sequel was my biggest challenge. How do you make a story set in a kitchen, exciting? It took me several revisions.

AOB: What kind of story can we expect next from you? Is it about a dog? If so, what is it about?

I am currently working on revisions for Woo and the Laughing One, which is about the Canadian painter Emily Carr and her pet monkey, Woo. This story is being illustrated by Dean Griffiths, the same illustrator who gave Lumpito and the Painter from Spain its charm and beauty.

AOB: What else would you like us to know about you or your story?

I am a lover of dogs and have had two in my life for over twenty years. Not the same two, mind you! But I am also a lover of cats. We live with four fine felines.

AOB: Can you remember the first book that made an impact on you? And why?

I adore The WIND IN THE WILLOWS by Kenneth Grahame. The characters are lively and funny and their adventures are wonderfully heroic even though cast in a small woodland setting. I also adore CHARLOTTE’S WEB. Who doesn’t?

Thank you so much for joining us today Monica Kulling at Best Dog Books! 

For other great books about dogs, check out 101 Best Dog Books for Kids.

For published authors and unpublished authors, check out our writing contests.

 Today I welcome J.L. Powers to World Reads, a blog that features interviews with authors who’ve written a story set outside of the United States for children or young adults.

What is the title of your book? The pub date and publisher? Genre? Targeted age group?

That Mad Game: Growing Up in a Warzone. Cinco Puntos Press. Fall 2012. Non-fiction. Young Adult and Adult.

Where is it set?

All over the world. Essays are set in Afghanistan, El Salvador, Lebanon, South Africa, Rwanda-DRC-Angola-South Africa, Vietnam, Cambodia, and more.

In 70 words or less, provide a succinct plot description of your story.

Seventeen writers contribute essays about how they became adults in times of war. Essays focus on modern history but take no sides. Vietnam from both sides. Bosnia. The Gulf War. Rwanda. Juárez. El Salvador. The list goes on and on. There are no winners, just the survivors left behind. Picking up the pieces.

Links to reviews or blurbs you wish to share:

A 2013 Skipping Stones Honor Book

A 2012 Notable Books for a Global Society Book

“Uplifting tales of survival… War’s most vulnerable victims have their say.” Kirkus Reviews.

“Readers will be rewarded by [this] compelling and often uplifting anthology … That Mad Game surprises with its variety. From Taliban-controlled Kabul to a Japanese internment camp in northern California, from a teen girl’s “soundtrack of war” in Beirut to a young man’s long walk across much of Africa, the startling stories make for rough going at times. But the humor, beauty, and humanity shining through the darkness are what make this collection a must-have for all libraries serving high school students.” School Library Journal

“Truly a unique title. If we are lucky, we will never know what the contributors to Powers’s collection have revealed. We will only have their record to better know what it was like; we will only have their sorrow to help us understand. Highly recommended.” Bookslut.

“These essays give readers a front-row seat to the hunger, the hardship, and, ultimately, the resilience of people whose childhoods were forever marked by life on the front lines.” Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

Click here to read the full reviews.

How are you connected to the setting of your story?

I’m connected intimately to the story set in Juarez, Mexico. I grew up in El Paso, Texas, which is a stone’s throw from Juarez just across the border. The man who wrote his story—about raising two daughters in the middle of a gruesome war with the drug cartels—is an old college friend of mine.

I am also connected to the themes in all the essays, which focus on violence and exile—themes which echo in my personal life and also make recurring visits in my novels.

What inspired you to write this story?

I was shocked to learn how little attention has been paid to the experiences of children in war, especially from a non-fiction perspective. I felt like it was important to think about it and present.

What was the biggest challenge you had writing your story? How did you overcome it?

Finding a variety of stories from people all over the world—that was hard. I had a lot of people offer World War II stories. Those are interesting and important, but there have been over a hundred conflicts since World War II. I wanted to represent a diversity.

What kind of story can we expect next from you? Is it set outside of the United States? If so, where? And what is it about?

I just had a novel come out on Sept 1, AMINA. It is only available in Australia and New Zealand and, I think, Great Britain at the moment. It is set in Somalia, Mogadishu, about a girl graffiti artist. I hope that it is released in the U.S. soon.

Otherwise, I’m working on a fantasy/sci-fi y.a. novel with my brother.

What else would you like us to know about you or your story?

Books rule! I can’t remember the last day when I haven’t put in substantive time reading. A life spent reading is a life well lived.

Can you remember the first book that made an impact on you? And why?

I think I’ve already written about this for you, but the first book I really read for myself was a picture book biography of Harriet Tubman. I hadn’t known much about slavery or emancipation or the Underground Railroad before then (I was only about six years old when I read it) but it gave me a real sense of social justice from a very young age.

Where can readers go to learn more information?

Web page

Facebook

Twitter

Thank you J.L. Powers for joining us at World Reads! Your books always touch important subjects around the world. We would love to interview you for your recent publication, AMINA! Be sure to visit J.L. Power’s web page for more information!