Reviews and News

READER’S REVIEWS

RESCUE KITTY

“The simple story in Rescue Kitty has the potential to teach children compassion and empathy for animals. If we can teach the value of animals to children, they ware more likely to grow up respecting their family, friends, neighbors, and the rest of the world. This thought give me hope for the survival of mankind. Thanks for the great message. Let’s make sure all young children hear this great story.”

--Dr. Tom Champley, Pines Meadow Veterinary Clinic, Oregon, IL & Administrator for Ogle County Animal Control

In Rescue Kitty, the plight of a needy and lovable calico cat inspires young readers to develop a humane understanding of compassionate and responsible animal care. Brenda Fiorini’s enchanting story will positively impact the developing conscience of children and inspire animal advocacy for generations to come. Books like Rescue Kitty will undoubtedly help shape the future of our society toward a more humane and ethical platform for social justice.

--Jennifer Guerrero, First Grade Teacher, Marsh Elementary, Chicago, IL

“Rescue Kitty” is a wonderful story that young readers can relate to and teachers can build discussions around. Having taught first grade I can see how this story will sow children the rewards of helping others. I would encourage teachers to use this book to begin talking about how to treat animals and then branching off into topics like homelessness and hunger. Over the years our family has adopted six animals from shelters. They have brought such joy that we are not sure who rescued who. My hope is that this story will encourage families to treat their animals well and think of adopting from a shelter.

--Bob Sondgeroth, Regional Superintendent of Schools Lee, Ogle, and Whiteside Counties, Illinois

RESCUE PUP

“The heartwarming story in RESCUE PUP is a must-read for kids and their adults. It’s a simple story of an abandoned dog told in punchy rhymes that keep the story moving. But in its simplicity is a message that is played out five million times a year all over the country-a scared, homeless pet looking for a savior. By the middle of the book I was crying - literally - happy tears for a dog character that I don’t even know. But he’s everyone’s dog, and that’s what makes the story so beautiful. Five paws up for RESCUE PUP!”

--Nikki Moustaki, Professional Dog Expert/Trainer and Author

“Children are our future and while we rescuers are fighting an uphill battle to help end the homeless plight of thousands of pets, we have the challenge to educate children in an appropriate format and manner to help them understand the responsibilities of being a pet parent, and the outcome of the unfortunate ones. This book shows that animals experience the same range of emotions we humans do; sadness, loss, fear, loneliness, hunger, trust, hope, and joy. Children hold the key to changing the future, and this book will help them on their journey. Amazing book!”

--Amber Kay, President / Founder Fur Angels Animal Sanctuary, Illinois

“I immediately sat down to read it and absolutely loved it! What a powerful message you are sending to anyone who reads it. It is indeed an educational message for us all. I intend to use it in my outreach presentations. Thanks for all you are doing to raise awareness of the plight of homeless animals.”

-Kerry Ecklebe, Education Director, Nebraska Humane Society

“A sad beginning turned into a happy ending for this adorable resilient little dog! The rhyme is great for young readers and the story itself will appeal to older children learning about responsible pet ownership and that animals need us to take care of them and give them a quality life! Love the illustrations, too! Nice job!”

-Mary Carney, Humane Education Coordinator Geauga Humane Society, Russell Township, OH

“I read it and found it to be a heartwarming book but one with a message about the plight of abandoned and homeless dogs. This is a fantastic job of getting the message out about the plight of abandoned animals and education for responsible pet ownership through your children's book(s)”

-Carol M. Solari-Ruscoe Elmore SPCA, Peru, New York

“The book is an excellent resource for humane education. It’s a simple story with a huge potential to develop empathy and compassion in children.”

-Dra. Ursula Aragunde Kohl, President and Founder Puerto Rico Alliance for Companion Animals, Inc. www.pranimals.org

“Rescue Pup is the perfect story to accompany lessons on pet care, pet responsibility, and animal shelters. Well-written and beautifully-illustrated, this book is sure to appeal to children in elementary schools across the nation.”

-Elaine Schmid, Program Director and Humane Educator Specialist, East Hillside Patch, Duluth MN

“Stranded by his people, Buddy sits and waits for their return. He doesn't know yet that they are not coming back. Gnawing hunger leads him to break through a screen door. Like most stray dogs and cats, he confronts hardships such as unfriendly people and road hazards, and lack of food. Eventually a car stops. The driver takes Buddy to the local shelter where he finds comfort. A family adopts Buddy and his story ends happily. That's not the case for all abandoned dogs and cats, especially since the 2008 mortgage meltdown. Many are rescued, but others scratch out a bleak existence surviving on garbage, enduring blistering summers and frigid winters without protection from the elements. Dozens are known to have starved, locked in houses or left chained in yards by people whose homes have been repossessed. Rescue Pup imparts values such as responsibility, caring, and that pets are part of the family.”

--Debra J. White, ANIMAL PEOPLE Magazine

“Rescue Pup is a charming story about Buddy the dog and his experiences of being abandoned by his owners and then saved by a kind-hearted individual. The story highlights the importance of responsible pet ownership and adopting pets from sanctuaries. The felt set and accompanying activity sheets provide an excellent opportunity for explaining the concept of animal welfare and introducing the idea of pets’ needs. They also provide alternative educational opportunities for children to learn and explore responsible pet ownership.”

--Emma Fenton, Interim Education Officer World Society for the Protection of Animals

˜’Rescue Pup’ is an ideal story to teach early elementary students about the importance of adopting a dog. It also provides great opportunities for fostering empathy as the children try to understand what Buddy experience.”

-Tatiana Garrett, Director of Community Outreach The Anti-Cruelty Society, Chicago, IL

“Great story! tears of sorrow, tears of joy. If this book can help families understand that animals have feelings just like humans, if it can save animals from being abandoned, or if it can teach people to be responsible when caring for an animal, then all of Brenda’s work will be worthwhile.”

-- Pat Uhler, Humane Educator. Happy Tails Humane Society, Sterling, IL

“This book has great appeal for a wide age range. There are many lessons to be learned from this story. It shows the hardships that unwanted pets have to endure and the happy ending that ALL pets deserve. Brenda shows that our pets deserve to be part of the family. Adoption is the joyful ending to a tragic beginning for Buddy.”

--Judy Lohse, Manager, Granny Rose Animal Shelter, Dixon, IL,

Lee County 4-H Dog Trainer, 4-H Leader Green River Rockets Club

“I thought it was a very cute story and very appropriately written for young children. I would definitely read it to my children.”

--Ann Wooten Kunce, Moore Humane Society, Southern Pines, NC

€˜’Rescue Pup’ demonstrates the dangers dogs face out in the big world and illustrates the importance of shelters and also the responsibility involved with pet ownership. It is a story to learn from.”€

--Doctors Sarah and Phil Fassler River Ridge Animal Hospital, Dixon, IL

“Thank you for writing Rescue Pup, which addresses the sad reality of animals being left in homes after their family has moved. Buddy, the rescue pup, shows all the emotions felt by a critter who has been abandoned and is trying to find someone to help him. He finds his happy ending, thanks to the kindness of a stranger and the love of a new family who open their hearts to him. Rescue Pup reminds us that many loving critters, just like Buddy, are waiting for someone to adopt them, so if you're looking for a new furry friend be sure to visit your local animal shelter.”

Christine Davis, Author of For Every Dog An Angel

'In Rescue Pup, Brenda Fiorini illustrates the all-too-common situation of neglect and abandonment that are suffered by dogs every day in this country. This book is a great tool to help children understand that animals too feel fear and are wholly dependent upon our commitment to love and care for them. Rescue Pup is an excellent rhyming story with a happy ending that ensures that first important step for young children - feeling true empathy for our companion animals.”

- Judy Masrud, author Second Chance - A Tale of Two Puppies

“’Rescue Pup’ is an endearing story that spoke to me in several different ways. As a reader I am captivated by the heartwarming story and motivated to volunteer with an animal rescue center. As a parent I delight in watching my daughters’ eyes glisten as each rereading brings another happy ending. As a teacher I use the book for amazing lessons utilizing text to self, text to world, and text to text connections. Also, it provides a launching board for writing personal narratives of pet ownership. As a dog lover I hold my furry baby and wish that all her doggy siblings had a warm bed and full bowl. Brenda Fiorini has created a new favorite of my bookshelves!”

-- Candace Buikema, 2nd Grade Teacher, Dixon Public Schools

“Left inside a house, abandoned, Buddy Puppy has no food or water. At first he was lonely and longed for someone to play with. Loud thunder and lightning scared him even more. He realized he must claw and scratch his way to the outside. The fields and streets are dangerous and he is desperate to know where to turn next, when a girl stops and rescues him. Subtitled A Special Dog, A Big Adventure and A Happy Ending, the author emphasizes character values such as taking responsibility and expressing love for all creatures. Rescue Pup is a well-developed story, told in rhyme, of the sad plight of many animals. At Christmas the problem grows legs and many children receive the gift of a darling puppy or cute kitten at the giving time of the year. How many weeks or months later does the “gift”€ become troublesome, the child tires of caring for the pet, and it ends up back at the animal shelter? Based on a true story, probably many true stores, Buddy is a graphic reminder, great to be read at school or home, to show the hardships that many unwanted animals deal with. Hopefully with picture books like Rescue Pup, children and their families will come to the understanding that animals have feelings like humans. The illustrator, Nathan Behmlander, places expressive dog faces on stark background to highlight the dog’s anxiety, his fears, his agony and finally his happiness at being rescued by Meg. As a teacher, Brenda Fiorini shares activity sheets that may be reproduced for classroom use in Language Arts, Math, and Character Education.” --Review published in “The Sun,” Baytown, Texas

--JoAn Martin, Author-Teacher-Consultant, Baytown, TX

Who knows what’s happened to Buddy the puppy’s people? Buddy doesn’t. All he knows is his food dish is empty, there’s no water for him, and he’s awfully lonely. Finally he bravely scratches his way out of the deserted house - but only to encounter more misery in the world outside until - he is rescued!”

Readers of this nicely rhyming story will be relieved to see Buddy discovered, empathized with, and brought in from the cold to a caring animal shelter. And yes, there’s a girl out there for Buddy: Meg, whose parents have brought her to pick a pet from the shelter, and she picks Buddy. The enthusiasm is mutual and that is the happy ending promised by the book’s title.

Illustrator Nathan Behmlander’s pictures of Buddy vividly depict the abandoned pup’s states of mind and precarious situations and, like the text, end happily showing the mutual joy of Buddy and Meg.

Ms. Fiorini, a teacher, adds several kid-oriented exercises and projects of use to other teachers/parents in conveying in as many ways as possible this book’s important, well-told message: take in a shelter pet if you can and treat it well - it’s now part of your family.

Alida Allison, Professor, Dept. of English and Comparative Literature

San Diego State University

“Primary grade students who study pets and pet care or community resources such as animal shelters will find Rescue Pup a welcome addition to their resource books. The story is lively and appealing and encourages responsibility and caring.”

Phyllis J. Perry, Author of Pandas Earthquake Escape, Sylvan Dell, 2010

"Rescue Pup" is a unique, moving story about a very special dog who has a heart-wrenching adventure. This book has a lesson for everyone about the hardships that unwanted pets have to endure and the responsibility that we all have in caring for our pets. As a pre-school Sunday School teacher, I read this book every Sunday to my class. For them it is this year's favorite "read"! The illustrations and the rhyming tale are great!

--Jan McKanna, Pre-School, Sunday School Teacher, and Librarian

“My wife & I take turns reading to our six year old son every night & ‘Rescue Pup’ has become one of his favorites. It’s a simple story that kids can enjoy & parents can appreciate. I’ve always been an animal lover so this book gets two thumbs up from me!”

--Terrance C. Jones, Actor