ReadPlus review of Rainbow Street Pets

A nice treat to find another review today, courtesy of my google alert:

Highly recommended. Short stories. Animals. The author of the books about Nim, again reveals her skills at teaching young readers about animals and how to look after them in this book of 6 stories about the Rainbow Street Shelter. The stories may be about animals and finding a human to look after them but each story contains a considerable amount of information about the animal and its care, as well as showcasing the range of animals suitable for homes and families of various types. 


Read the rest of the review here: ReadPlus

Rainbow Street Pets by Wendy Orr � Readings.com.au

What a lovely review from a lovely bookshop!

Any child who loves animals or who has longed for a pet will enjoy and probably read and reread this collection of six related stories ....

Wendy Orr writes about caring for animals with knowledge and empathy, including the feeding and the mucking out, the exercising or resting, so the feel-good stories are both heartwarming and down to earth.

To read the full review: 

Rainbow Street Pets by Wendy Orr � Readings.com.au

Animal Careers & Carers: Debra Duel, Director, Humane Edcuations WARL

Debbie Duel, the Washington Animal Rescue League’s Director of Humane Education, has more than 25 years of experience in humane education—leading classroom programs and professional workshops.  She is the author of the book, Nigel, a popular Operation Outreach-USA (www.oousa.org) title.  I had never heard of a role like this until I received an email from her last year. You can see several reasons why I warmed to her in this excerpt from her original email:

"I just read Lost! A dog Called Bear.  Thank you for writing a book for early readers that not only paints animal shelters, and their staff and volunteers, in a positive light, but stresses the importance of micro-chipping AND is a really good story.   The humane education program that I administer is literacy based. We provide classroom teachers with humane-themed books for their classroom libraries, and whenever possible, give every student In the class a book of his/her very own.  I am going to add Lost! A Dog Called Bear to my list and can’t wait to get Missing!  A Cat Called Buster.

I also wanted to let you know that I believe  that the strongest message in your book, and there are many without preaching a single one, is when Hannah decides not to adopt the guinea pig!    That is such an important, and often lost, message."

Debbie's childhood friend Teddy

No wonder she was the first person I thought of to interview for this new series of posts on animal careers and carers.

How would you describe your job? .

Lots of fun, but with a serious message.   I actually get paid to spend every day with my wonderful dog, Nigel, and children who care about animals!  My job is to share information about animal welfare with students  so they can strategize ways in which to help animals and make a real difference.  I tell them, you don’t need to live with an animal to help them.  Animal welfare is everyone’s  responsibility.

What was the path - or the passion(!) -  that led you to working to animals in general, or this job in particular?  

I couldn’t find a job when I graduated college in 1981, so I started volunteering with the local animal welfare organization in Tallahassee, Florida.  That led to a job in the adoptions department at the shelter.   I didn’t feel like I was doing enough to prevent animal cruelty and make a real dent in the overpopulation crisis in that position, so I started a volunteer humane education program for children, and that eventually led to paid position.  Now I visit students in D.C. area schools.  The students and I explore ways to end animal suffering including spaying and neutering cats and dogs, lobbying for stricter animal protection laws, and  emphasizing responsible animal care school-wide.

Did you have pets as a child? 

Debbie's Dad with his "Black Hill Sheepdog"  Ted

We adopted our first cat when I was 9-years-old.  That was a big deal because my mother was scared to death of cats.   I’ve lived with cats ever since.  Later, my family added a puppy to the family.   The card on his cage at the shelter said shepherd mix.  But Teddy, a fluffy black puppy grew into a very handsome 60 pound shaggy dog that didn’t resemble a shepherd at all.    People would stop us and ask what kind of dog he was.  My dad made up a name, he would say, “Ted is a Black Hill Sheepdog.”  People would often reply, “Wow, he’s beautiful, I’ve never seen one of those before,” or “You don’t see many of those in south Florida, do you?”  “No, you don’t, “ my dad answered.  

Do you have an animal companion now?

My dog, Nigel, came to live with my family 7 ½ years ago.  He is a black Labrador retriever, who neither swims nor retrieves (characteristics associated with retrievers).  My son, Max, who was seven when we adopted Nigel wanted a dog more than anything in the world.  Since I worked in a shelter, I saw dogs every day, but none of them were the “right” dog.  Eventually, one of our humane officers brought in a very friendly, but terribly emaciated black dog.   The veterinarian who examined him said that he had been nearly starved to death.  Nigel, now a very handsome 75-pound dog, weighed just 48 pounds the day he was rescued.   For me, it was love at first sight.   Nigel comes to work with me at the Washington Animal Rescue League, and he visits students in Washington, D.C.   I wrote a book about him shortly after I adopted him and we give the book to every student we meet.   Nigel and I also live with three shelter cats, Micky, a Morris-the-cat look-alike, Merl a brown tabby named for a cat in one of favorite picture books, My Big Dog,  by Susan Stevens Crummel and Janet Stevens, and Charlotte Tibbs, our most recent addition.

What would your pet tell us about you?  

 Charlotte would complain that I refuse to let her go outside.  She is very curious and is always trying to escape out the front door.  I explain to her that she is much safer as an indoor only cat (and so are the birds!), but she is not very accepting of this reasoning.   She is young and fearless; scratching posts and toy mice are not nearly as thrilling to her as towering maple trees and real-live rodents!

Any advice for people wanting a pet?  

An animal companion is a HUGE financial and time commitment, but if you are sure that you can, and want to commit to both, you will have a true BFF!

Favourite animal books? 

I have so many and I love sharing them with students.   Right now the first two books in the Rainbow Street Series are my absolute favorites for young chapter book readers and Cracker!: The Best Dog in Vietnam by Cynthia Kadohata and The Nine Lives of Travis Keating by Jill MacLeanis  are my must-read picks for fifth and sixth graders.  I think both of those would make great movies!  I have way too many favorite animal picture books to name, but I list many of them on my blog, warlkids.blogspot.com.

Book to Film: the journey continues with Nim at Sea

US edition

Nim at Sea, the sequel to Nim's Island, was published exactly five years ago. I dedicated it to Paula Mazur – not because she was the producer of the Nim's island film, or even because of the strong friendship that had grown  during the four years since she first contacted me about the film rights for Nim's Island, but because of her belief in Nim. From our first conversations, back in July 2003, I knew that she understood and cared about Nim just as deeply as I did.

Australian edition

With wonderful serendipity, the Nim's Island film went into preproduction, at the Warner Roadshow Studios on the Gold Coast, just as Nim at Sea was published, and Paula and I were both very excited that she was going to be able to launch it for me, at Riverbend Books in Brisbane. (In the end she was stuck out at sea on the evening of the launch, but that's another story.)

on location in the rain forest, for Nim's Island 

A couple of months later, we were on location watching Nim (Abigail Breslin) run down a mountain with her lizard Fred on her shoulder. Over and over, as Fred kept crawling around her neck to her left shoulder - which was in the sun - and the camera needed him to be on the right shoulder so Abbie could speak to him.

Rainforest for Nim's Island

Even the imperfect takes were wonderful: they were all so essentially Nim. Paula and I looked at each other and could not stop grinning. All those years of planning – and now it was real. "Now we've got to start planning Nim at Sea!" Paula said.

And this week, the production office opened. The film based on Nim at Sea is in official preproduction, with Bindi Irwin to star as Nim. The film will be called Nim's Island II: Return of the Pirates.

The adventure continues... and not just for Nim!

UK edition

ReadPlus Review of Rainbow Street Pets

 Lovely review of Rainbow Street Pets (the Australian edition of the Rainbow Street Shelter series) in Read Plus's review blog:

Recommended. Pet stories are very popular with children and this is an excellent collection of six stories in one book.
Each chapter features an animal and tells how they became involved in the Rainbow Street Animal Shelter. The stories vary from a lost dog, an unwanted lion cub and a stolen horse. Of course they are not only stories of the animals but of the people who are involved with them, the separated owners, the animal shelter workers and the eventual new homes the animals find.
Children who want a pet of their own will identify with the longing of the children in this novel, but Wendy Orr demonstrates that although a pet brings love and companionship there are responsibilities as well, such as grooming, cleaning, exercising and training.
These heart warming stories often connect to each other, with characters appearing in more than one chapter.

To read more: ReadPlus

Dee White's Writing Classes for Kids Competition

MEET WENDY ORR – Featured Author

Dee White runs a writing workshop for kids on her blog, and often has great competitions. This month she has been kind enough to feature me, and I've donated a copy of Raven's Mountain as a prize. (And of course I'll sign it for the winner, when Dee tells me who he or she is).

So if you want to sharpen up your writing skills, and maybe win a personally signed book as well, head straight over to this blog.

Here's one of the hints I've given in my post:

There are poems by Jess and Raven in Raven's Mountain (Facing the Mountain in Canada)

Jess’s goodbye poem for Raven:

When Raven moved to Jenkins Creek

Her friends at home did wail and weep.

For those hills are far away

From the flat lands where we stay.

But when Raven bravely mountain climbs

She’ll think of friends from time to time.

So in our hearts we’ll always keep

Our dearest friend on her mountain peak.

Raven’s verse when she finally finds some food:

Cookies in my tummy,

Chocolate in my brain,

It’s really very funny

When you think you’re going insane.

ACTIVITY: Write a poem for Raven that describes what you think of her or her adventure.

(Or, of course, you can always write a poem that describes you or what you're doing!) 

State Library of Queensland Young Writers Award

Got a way with words? State Library of Queensland Young Writers Award is now open! If you’re 18 to 25 and live in Queensland, enter your short story today for a chance to win $2000. Entries close Friday 13 July. For more information go here:  http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/whats-on/awards/ywa Good luck!

Artists and Animals: Robyn Osborne and Sox

Photo courtesy of the Gympie Times

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Robyn Osborne is a teacher, author and animal fanatic. Her first published book, D.O.G.  was a junior novel about a boy who desperately wanted a pet dog. (Macmillan, 2005). In 2010, her second book, Dog Logic-a pooch's guide to dogs behaving badly was published by Big Sky Publishing, Sydney. Dog Logic is a quirky, funny view of the world from a canine's perspective and was co-pawthored by her clever dog Sox, 'The Philosophical Pooch'.  Sox is a canine columnist with Dogs Life magazine and  even has a Facebook Page where he dispenses fun, furry, four-legged philosophy.

 http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sox-The-Philosophical-Pooch-Osborne/162936030398385 

Robyn’s website is http://robynosborne.com/

Have you ever been inspired by an animal, or animals in general, in your life or art?

Animals have always been a huge part of my life. When I analysed most of my stories (published and unpublished), I realised nearly all of them focus on my pets, past and present. My very first published story, ‘The Heartworm War’(Smarter Than Jack 2, Avocado Press, 2004) was about Bluey, a canny cattle dog I owned as a kid. Bluey was also the inspiration for a recently published short story, ‘The Workin’ Dog’ (The Bridge anthology, Stringybark Publishing, 2011). Big Bad Boisterous Bruno Bright, the Bluey from the Bush retells the story of my father’s dog, using alliteration and good old Aussie colloquialisms. My current canine companions, Snowy and Sox aren’t forgotten. They star in their very own picture book manuscripts; My Dog Sox andSnow Dreams (both as yet unpublished, but I live in hope!). I’m writing a book about my animals, called The Bright Menagerie. Whenever I think it’s finished, I remember another funny incident worth jotting down, so it’s a work in progress.

Did you have pets as a child? 

I get my love of animals from my father and I can’t remember a time when we didn’t have pets. At 11, I made the connection between the cow and the steak on the plate and turned vegetarian (which I still am today). Over the years there have been many four- legged furry friends that have enriched my life; dogs, cats, mice, goats, sheep, cows, a pig (not strictly furry, I know).  There was even a praying mantis called Orville.

Do you have an animal companion now?

Snowy and Sox are both ex RSPCA dogs of indeterminate breed.  We adopted Snowy in 1995 and three years later Sox joined us. Although they share a love of chicken and a hatred of the neighbour’s cats, they are opposites in many ways. Snowy is a small, energetic terrier cross, while Sox has an easy going manner and a generous figure. His speckled paws suggest cattle dog heritage, but his penchant for grass hints at Aberdeen Angus.  Dog Logic is Sox’s view of the world: irreverent, honest, fun, naughty, at times a little rude, but always with tongue firmly planted in muzzle. Snowy also has literary aspirations, quietly penning Midget Bones’s Diary – Memoirs of a Mongrel’ her racy, risqué (and yet to be published) autobiography.

What would your pet tell us about you?

I'll hand over to Sox on this question. “As a human PA to a celebrity canine like myself, I give her the paws up. She is fluent in dogspeak and experienced at ear caresses, tummy rubs and muzzle patting. She is also prepared to take on other duties as directed, such as accompanying me on country rambles, sweeping excessive fur from floors and discreetly cleaning up any wee accidents. Most importantly, she has opposable thumbs, because claws and computers just don’t work!”  

If you were an animal, what would you be?

Being a vegetarian, I’d have to go for a goat living on an organic farm, high in the mountains.

Any advice for people wanting a pet?

All my canine friends have been strays or rescue dogs, so I am a great supporter of animal welfare groups and the push for mandatory de-sexing of pets. As an ex-RSPCA puppy who overcame a difficult start to life, Sox is proof that a dog from the wrong side of the pound can still achieve greatness.

Favourite animal books?

There are so many I could mention.  I did love My Dog Mab, a RSPCA storybook (Jutta Goetze), but my all-time favourite would have to be Rex, an English novel about a sheep dog (Joyce Stranger), given to me by my father when I was 15. I still have to reach for the tissues in some parts of the book.

Lost dirty dogs and hairdressers

Lots of writerly events in my three weeks in Canada & quick stop in LA, but first I have to share the story of why our first phone message when we turned on the  mobile at the airport was: We have your dogs. From Zarboo Hairdressing Salon.

It seems that Harry was jealous of his predecessor Bear having his own book about getting lost, and so he and his friend Pippa decided to have their own adventure too. They had a lovely house-sitter staying here with them, and apparently behaved very well till Wednesday. That morning, just as she was about to clip on their leads at the back gate, they scented a rabbit and took off though the thick bushland. She called, chased them, searched the block, phoned neighbours, and finally went out searching in the car.

Meanwhile, having given up on the rabbit, the two escapees headed off on their usual walk. They passed the hairdresser, apparently looking so pleased with themselves that she went out to see where we were - and of course saw no one. However the dogs followed her back to the salon, so she very kindly let them in. (And phoned the number on their tags, but of course the house sitter was out searching, and we were somewhere over the Pacific with our phones turned off).

Harry was, she says, putrid. (A common state for him.) And when he's wet, muddy and happy, his favourite way to dry himself is to skid along the floor on his wet muddy back. The smooth salon floors proved ideal for skidding – he was so ecstatic that Pippa tried her own version of hopping and racing around, and the two of them skidded and hopped, round and round the lovely clean salon. This built up quite an appetite, so they successfully suggested that they share in some lunch.

Of course all good parties have to come to an end, and eventually the distraught carer was reunited with her naughty charges. I don't know whether she's now considering a career change, but she seemed quite relieved to see us yesterday morning.

We're relieved too. Relieved that we've come home to two happy, healthy dogs – and grateful that we live in a community where people will take the time and trouble to care for a lost pet.  This is an amusing story in retrospect, but it could have turned out very differently. And although both dogs are microchipped and tagged, they wouldn't have been quite so chirpy if they'd simply been turned in to the pound (especially Harry, who as a third time rescue when we got him, had spent two sessions in the Lort Smith Animal Hospital in his first year of life. A wonderful place, but not one we want him to return to.)

So, thanks to everyone at Zarboo!

Harry and Pippa on their twin leash, the way they're supposed to be!