RECOMMENDED CHILDREN'S BOOK

Dear Jubilee,

Is there a book that would be good for us to use with our children to help them understand all the love and benefits that they get from our dog and also will help them understand how short a dog’s life can be?

 Curious in Cleveland

 Dear Curious,

 I recently read one of the best family books that I have ever seen on owning a dog, the joys, the issues, the responsibilities, the obligations, the emergencies, and the decisions involved. It covers the entire life of Max, an Airedale Terrier who was adopted by Robin Reynolds and her husband, from the time he was surrendered to a shelter when he
was seven months old to the time he was helped to pass at the end of his life. And the story is told in the most down-to-earth, sensitive, loving writing you can imagine. Children and adults will love this storybook.

The book is by Robin Reynolds who has had Airedales since she was a child. Robin is a writing professional who does a lot of advertising copywriting (just like I used to do before I retired), and she had help with the book from Terry Rohrs, her graphic design partner, who illustrated the book perfectly. You can see samples of the illustrations at http://www.lifetomax.com/ .

The book is Life to the Max: Maxims for a Great Life by a Dog named Max. It is arranged in 20 two-page spreads with a maxim on the right page and a story on the left page. For example, Maxim #1 is: "When bad things happen, worrying won't change anything. Trust you'll get through it." The story that goes with that maxim is how Max was surrendered to a humane society when he was seven months old, put into the shelter's huge penned area with lots of other loud and noisy dogs, chosen to be the adoption pet of the week on a TV broadcast, but seen and adopted before he ever got to the show.

All 20 of the maxims and stories are as well thought out as the first.  Through these maxims, you learn about Max, but more importantly, every reader of every age learns important life lessons in the context of caring for a dog and relating to a dog.

I heartily recommend this book to everyone, and especially to families with children and grandchildren. The story is well written and charmingly illustrated. Max comes alive through the words and pictures, and the lessons learned are unforgettable.

I will be sending a copy of this book to my grandsons.

And not only is the book wonderful, the author is donating 10 percent of the price of the book if purchased through http://www.lifetomax.com/ to Airedale Rescue.

Jubilee