Miss April In Paris Has New Fans

Lower School Animal Lovers' Club with A Dog Dreams of Paris

 

I am so excited my little picture book, A Dog Dreams of Paris, has more young readers. I love how books and animals connect people and form friendships! Last spring I gave a copy of April's book to my friend Sofia Dakos (an Elementary School Art Teacher at Nansemond Suffolk Academy in Virginia) for the school library. We had a mutual connection in Atlanta, a friend of mine, and a family member of hers, and finally met in person. I did hound her a bit that I would love a photo of the students with my book. Miss April in Paris likes to see her fans!

 

The end of February I received the photos in this post and a lovely note from a new friend I hope to meet one day, too, Ann Woleben, Head, Lower School Becky Godwin Memorial Library.

 

Thank you so very much for the gift of your autographed copy of "A Dog Dreams of Paris".  Our students love the story as much as they love dogs.  I have attached an article and photos from our ESaints newsletter that pertain to your book and our recent meeting of the Animal Lovers' Club.

 

Below is a copy of the article and a photo of all the students.

 

 

 

The February meeting of the Lower School Animal Lovers’ Club had two special events on the agenda.  Five therapy dogs and their handlers from the Suffolk Humane Society Volunteer Therapy Dog Team came for a visit and the students watched a demonstration and learned about the requirements dogs have to meet in order to become a therapy dog.  There was plenty of love to go around with the five furry visitors. 

 

The second event was the reading of A Dog Dreams of Paris – From Rescue to Dog Diva written by Barbara Barth.  Ms. Barth lives in Georgia and has six rescue dogs.  She is a friend of Mrs. Dakos (LS art teacher) and sent an autographed copy of her book to our NSA students.  The Animal Lovers’ Club members loved hearing the story told from the dog’s perspective, especially when the dog included French words in the telling of her story.  “Enchante!”

 

 

Books and dogs and friends - It doesn't get any better. Remember proceeds from the sale of A Dog Dreams of Paris go to animal rescue.

Miss April In Paris Has A Fan

 

Skipper likes April's Diary!

 

 

 

Writers like to hear someone has enjoyed their story. I am no exception. So I was thrilled to get the following e-mail (see below) from a stranger who loved my latest book and let me know. Thanks so much, Sharon Gilbert, for my lovely review and the pictures of Skipper. April is smitten with him! Sharon won a copy of my book while I was on a blog tour with WOW! Woman on Writing. I treasure this note.

 

Remember, proceeds from the sale of A Dog Dreams of Paris go to animal rescue. Available on Amazon.

 

 

Barbara,

 

Thank You so much I received my book today that I won from Oh My Dog (Maggie Marton) contest! I had to sit right down and read the book before I did anything else. I LOVE LOVE your book A Dog Dreams Of Paris. The pictures are so magnificent. The story from Miss April's view was so amazing. I have triplet grand children and next time they are in town and I going to read the story to them.  Two of them are girls and they will love the pictures of the dogs with hats.  They love wearing hats. I am sure the boy is going to laugh his butt off when I read them about the dogs sniffing butts.  They have 2 black lab/great pyrenees (they are rescued siblings - girl and boy) and they are always sniffing butt. I have 2 Vizslas and 1 is a rescue.

Again Love your book!

 

You are an amazing writer.

 

Sharon Gilbert

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you Sharon and Skipper! You made our day.

 

                                                                      Barbara and Miss April In Paris

 

 



Celebrating Bastille Day Doggie Style

Miss April in Paris

 

 

 Welcome to the Writer With Dogs Bastille Day Blog Party

 

This post is part of A Dog Dreams of Paris blog tour with WOW! Women On Writing. Click here for the kick-off interview on The Muffin and the remaining stops on the tour, which ends July 24th.

 

 

 

 

Miss April in Paris has enlivened this household of one human and six dogs. The human stays active, but six dogs are pretty much couch potatoes. The excitement of the publication of April's diary has caused a stir with the hounds. They have been following her blog tour and wonder if perhaps sometime down the road they will each have their own book. Time will tell on that one. However, time is important today. . . . Party time that is, as the dogs plan to celebrate Bastille Day!

 

"I've never heard of Bastille Day." Chloe, the alpha Chihuahua, exclaimed as soon as the party was brought up. She was slightly preoccupied with her fake mustache. It tickled her nose.

 

"It's simple," Diva dog Miss April in Paris explained. "Bastille Day, the French national holiday, commemorates the storming of the Bastille, which took place on July 14, 1789, and was the beginning of the French Revolution. The Bastille was a prison and a symbol of the power of Louis the 16th's Regime. By capturing this symbol, the people signaled that the king's power was no longer absolute: power should be based on the Nation and be limited by a separation of powers. The French celebrate Bastille Day each year on July 14th, with parties, parades,  food, drinks, dances and fireworks!"

 

"Do we get dog bones?" Bray, usually reserved and shy, was excited at the thought of more food. He slipped into a pair of cool shades and helped himself to a frosty beverage.

 

"Yes, and special drinks. Now, doesn't that taste yummy?" Diva April snorted, a very unladylike gesture. Perhaps she had already had a few of the special party drinks.

 

"I love music," Annabelle stretched on the couch, her big belly pointing up at the ceiling. The sound of a favorite pop song Uptown Funk got her up and moving. "I can make a run to the store if we need anything." While she didn't drive, Annabelle loved to ride in the car with the radio blasting tunes into the universe.

 

Rascal's eyes rolled. Her blue eye (for she has two different colored eyes) winked at April. "Are you wearing that old pink hat again?"

 

"It's my Diva hat. It's the hat that started my story. And yes, I am wearing it. You can have one of those silly party hats on the table."

 

"Gladly," Rascal yawned, then raced across the room to grab a hat and a party drink.

 

"Count me in, too!" Bertha rambled over to the table to find a pair of party glasses, both to wear and to drink from. "Let the party begin!" Bertha was especially social. She looked at her drink and wondered if perhaps she should have put the lime in the coconut. Then she barked, a loud piercing sound and shook her head, her funny mustache mixing with saliva dripping off her chops. Bertha took a sip out of her coconut and toasted the day.  "Viva La France!"

 

Before the party gets too rowdy, the dogs posed for their Bastille Day portraits.

 

Chloe

 

Bray

 

Annabelle

 

 

Rascal

 

Bertha

 

 

Wishing all a happy Bastille Day. Party On!