CritterKin Timeline

The CritterKin mutts were inspired by a request from the Director of the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies (CFHS). She reached out asking if I could write a series of 8 stories about adoptable shelter dogs that CFHS could use as part of their anti-puppy mill campaign, “Finding Fido.”

Each week for 8 weeks I wrote a story for kids about one of the dogs from the CritterKin pack. FUN!

Watch CFHS's Finding Fido video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3nMCAv6vKU

Shortly after I started volunteering with the SPCA and the Humane Society of North Carolina in 2010, I was introduced to the director of education at the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). She and her team were working on a new program called "Cats Dogs, and Us." She wanted to include an original story based on the work they were doing in Cozumel, Mexico where dogs were being abandoned at the local garbage dump. The Humane Society and IFAW came together to get the dogs the healthcare they needed and find them permanent homes whenever possible.

After spending time talking with their teams and seeing photos and videos, I came up with Poco a Poco, the story of how a mother dog and her puppy overcame hunger and hardship to find their forever homes. Poco a Poco means "little by little, and is meant to illustrate how working on big challenges in small steps can result in positive change. A study and discussion guide is also included.

The Premiere of Poco a Poco

Click the image above to see my reading of Poco a Poco at The Farm - a summer camp for kids in North Carolina. I'd done readings of stories and poems before, but never for such a discerning audience. I really wanted kids to love hearing my CritterKin stories as much as I loved writing them :-)

As part of my volunteer work with the Humane Society I observed and was given permission to write about puppy mills and the work the Humane Society was doing to shut them down. It was during one of their raids on a puppy mill that I learned about Ricky Bobby, a miniature dachshund whose back legs were paralyzed due to the neglect he suffered in the puppy mill.

While writing Ricky bobby's story I came up with the idea of creating a pack of 8 mixed breed dogs. Each dog would have a challenge or difficulty to overcome that kids could relate to. Meet the mutts introduced kids in elementary schools around the world with accompanying creative activities designed to help them apply what they learned to their lives outside school. Below are some of the projects based on Meet the Mutts.

With the support of her principal, Ana Wilson, Erin Presdeer the librarian at John R Tibbott Elementary School in Illinois was one of the first to bring CritterKin books and programs to her school. This interview with Anna and Erin explains why they feel CritterKin is such an important addition to their school. They are sitting in front of the Kindness Garden the students and teachers planted and then decorated with rocks they painted expressing ways to share kindness with others.

Drawing and Storytelling

Drawing and telling the stories of dogs to help them find forever homes

Told through the eyes of a goofy, fun-loving pit bull named Lance, Lead With Your Heart is the story of how one dog overcomes prejudice and fear to find his forever home. Lance's adventures involve everything from obedience training and spaghetti sauce to visits to the principal's office.

But no matter what the challenge, Lance always leads with his heart. Kids and adults alike will chuckle over his struggle to understand vacuum cleaners, cell phones and shoes, and cheer as he learns to overcome stereotypes, stigmas, bullying, and attempts by the city council to ban him from the town.

Creative activities associated with Meet the Mutts included:

Drawing and writing stories about real dogs waiting for their forever homes at animal shelters. Shelters allowed us to put post the drawings and stories on the cages of the dogs and would notify us when a dog was adopted.
Start with the Heart: Decorating the walls of schools with Kindness hearts
Creating "The Des Moines Doggy Daily," Students a newspaper that explored the pros and cons of owning a pit bull and allowing people to adopt them. Students at Delaware Elementary school in Iowa took on the roles of photographers, reporters, editors, and opinion writers.
Creating Kindness Quilts (paper AND fabric): Actual paper (created as templates for the fabric quilts) and fabric quilts that gave each child a square to personalize and learn some sewing skills to boot! Kindness Quilts were created in classrooms across America.
Live Performances of Lead With Your Heart. Based on the last chapter of the book, a play was created with parts for all the students in the classes taking part. After auditions were held (everyone wanted to play the part of the dogs), parts ere assigned, practices were held, and invitations went out to family and friends. The events were also livestreamed so that classes in other parts of the world could watch. FUN!

Quilting for Kindness Example

Quilting for Kindness at Bellevue Elementary School in Nebraska

https://www.pinterest.com/JenaiaMaui/quilting-for-kindness/

Lead with Your Heart Live Plays

These plays, entitled, "Take Your Medicine" are based on the final chapter in the third CritterKin book, Lead With Your Heart. I created a script with lines for each of the students taking part, and then parents, friends, neighbors and our friends in classrooms around the world were invited to watch. The example below comes from Tammy Massman's 3rd grade class in Iowa.

The Not Perfect Hat Club

The story of how a golden retriever bred for perfection discovers that his imperfections are his greatest gifts.

The Launch

Interview with the two educators responsible for bringing the launch of the Not Perfect Hat Club to their school.

Guest Blog for Education Week

I was invited by Peter Dewitt - a former K-5 public school principal turned author, presenter, and leadership coach, to write about why students believe they have to be perfect for his EducationWeek blog. Here's the link: https://www.edweek.org/education/opinion-why-do-students-think-they-have-to-be-perfect/2016/09

Not Perfect Hat Club Creative Collaborations

The Six-week NPHCBlogIt Global Program

NPHC BlogIt was a six-week global program that incorporated live readings,, discussions, and cresaehad students and teachers representing more than 200 schools from 16 countries taking part. Below you can find an overview, guidelines for participation, and each of the six weeks.