About the book, The Puppy Adventures of Porter and Midge: Out and About 
- Genre: Children’s Book / Pet Books / Pet Care
- Publisher: Raise the Woof Press
- Page Count: 38 pages
- Publication Date: May 16, 2023
- Scroll down for a giveaway!
Introducing The Puppy Adventures of Porter and Midge: Out and About – a quick introduction to early socialization and training for puppies that will make them outstanding canine citizens and wonderful family pets. Kids will love following along with the two puppies’ story set in Austin, Texas, as they learn about how to take care of their own puppy. This is the first book in a series of story books, journals, and activity books.
Praise for this book:
“Gift this book to any new puppy owner you know!” –Lynn M. Hayner, Author at Dogster
“Chen and Nevada write in an easy and enjoyable style…If you are a dog lover, this storybook is for you. Help your children become the best dog companion they can be.” –Philip Van Heusen, Reader’s Favorite
Buy, read, and discuss this book:
About the authors, Jennie Chen and Giselle Nevada
Jennie Chen is a homesick Austinite who founded Keep Austin Dog Friendly. Over the last 20 years, Jennie has owned Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs and Lowchen. She has earned numerous titles in conformation, competitive obedience, rally, herding, animal assisted therapy, and more. She is passionate about the relationship people build with their beloved canines, and she has been an advocate for people living with disabilities who need a service dog to live independently. She is active in various dog clubs and can be seen on AKC.TV from time to time.
Connect with Jennie:
Website | Instagram | Facebook
Giselle Nevada has owned several mastiffs, acquired both from reputable breeders and via rescue. Fostering rescued mastiffs and helping them work through their issues led to a keen interest in socialization as a means of preventing future issues. She loves working with her dogs and has dabbled in carting, conformation, agility, rally, trick dog, nose work, and many other canine sports. Her puppy Porter is a testament to early socialization – he has achieved many performance dog titles and has done commercial work. He also has a role in a movie called Match Me If You Can directed by Marian Yeager.
Interview with Jennie Chen and Giselle Nevada 
How did you come up with the book idea?
We became proud puppy owners of two adorable puppies named Porter and Midge, and we figured we could so some socializing together. We took pictures of our puppies’ adventures, capturing precious moments of them learning and growing.
As we looked through the pictures, we realized that they could be the inspiration for a children’s book. We decided to write a story that would not only showcase our puppies’ adventures but also teach children about the value of socializing their furry friends. A friend of ours suggested Ann, our illustrator — who works at UT-Austin and wanted to do more art. And the rest is history.
What is your mission with the book & journals?
We think it’s to provide children and families with a fun and engaging story that also offers valuable training and behavior concepts. We want to be very clear — THIS IS NOT a training manual. We just want to expose families to different training concepts that can help them develop a better understanding of new dogs. By doing so, we hope to provide families with a foundation that they can build upon with their dog trainers. Our goal is to promote responsible pet ownership and create a positive impact on the lives of both children and their furry friends.
What makes this book unique among all the other puppy & children’s books on the market?
There are many children’s books that use dogs to teach lessons about themselves and the world around them. There are also many dog training books that are geared towards children. However, our series is different because it is primarily a story. While we do provide valuable training tips, they are woven into the story, part of the narrative. We believe that this approach makes the learning experience more enjoyable for children and encourages them to engage with the story and its characters.
What does the future look like for Porter and Midge? Series of books?
Our illustrator, Ann Kelble, has already started illustrating the second book, The Puppy Adventures of Porter and Midge: Paws at Attention. We are aiming to release the book by the end of the year. In this book, Lora and CJ will take part in various community volunteer opportunities while learning about different jobs dogs can have. The book will also emphasize the importance of one foundational skill and in this book, we are focusing on the “check-in” with owners. We are excited to continue Porter and Midge’s adventures in a series of books.
We’ve also gotten a bunch of feedback that we should create a series targeted at younger kids. We are currently working on illustrating a rhyming book that focuses on safe play between dogs and kids.
How can people learn more about you and where can they purchase the book and accompanying journal and activity books?
They can visit our website or find us on Facebook and Instagram. The book and accompanying journal and activity books are available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Walmart and a bunch of different online places. But, support your local bookstores and ask them to order you a copy!
We also have a mailing list that you can join if you want to get notified when new books come out!
Giveaway
Three winners receive a pawtographed/autographed copy of The Puppy Adventures of Porter & Midge: Out and About
(US only; ends midnight, CST, 6/9/23)
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Catherine Stier is the author of several awarding-winning children’s books. Her titles include If I Were President, If I Ran for President, If I Were a Park Ranger, and the A Dog’s Day chapter-book series. In grade school, Catherine ran a class campaign for student council with handmade signs, and, although she didn’t win, she found the process exciting! She went on to earn an MA in reading and literacy from the University of Texas at San Antonio and has conducted children’s literature research. She now resides with her husband in San Antonio and volunteers at a local wilderness park.
