Book Details:
Book Title: The Triumphant Tails of Rescue Dogs: Punk’s Plight by Dr. Hope A. Walter, EdD
Category: Children’s Fiction (Ages 5-12), 38 pages
Genre: Children’s Picture Book
Publisher: Mascot
Release date: Aug, 2021
Content Rating: G.
This is not just another book about a dog! Meet Punk, an eight-year-old petite English Bulldog. Her life appears great right now, but it wasn’t always that way. Join Punk as she recounts her story of neglect, her rescue and recovery, and her journey of learning to trust and heal again. Punk’s Plight is meant to help educators, psychologists, social workers, counselors, and allies of children teach children about the difficult topic of neglect. Punk teaches that neglect may change you forever, but it does not have to stop you from living your best life.
Amazon ~ B&N
Mascot Books
Hope A. Walter, Ed. D grew up in East Greenville, Pennsylvania. After graduating from Upper Perkiomen High School, Hope received her B.S. in Elementary Education at Kutztown University in 1996, her M.S. in Educational Psychology in 2002 from the University of Las Vegas in Nevada, and her Ed.D in Educational Leadership in 2018. Currently, Hope resides in McMinnville, Oregon with her husband of 25 years, her 3 boys, and her 2 dogs and 2 cats. She works as an adjunct professor at Linfield University and Oregon State University teaching mathematics education and educational psychology to future teachers.
Punk’s Plight was conceptualized after teaching future teachers about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Hope saw the connection between ACES and the journey of her own bulldog, Pumpkin, who was neglected, rescued, and spent the rest of her life learning how to trust and love again. Sadly, Pumpkin passed away peacefully in November 2020 after a long life with the Walter family. Hope wants Punk’s story to help children suffering from neglect by showing children they can recover, heal, and prosper despite experiencing neglect.
connect with the author: website ~facebook ~ instragram
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How did you do research for your book?
First, I had an idea to explain neglect and abuse to young children through rescued dogs. The love between children and animals is so strong and bonding, I felt it would be a good way to discuss a difficult topic. Once I had the idea, I decided I needed the help of the experts, so I asked teachers, counselors, child psychologists, and abuse prevention educators to read my first draft and comment. Then I went back and edited, and edited, and edited. I also did extensive research on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) and Positive Childhood Experience (PCE). I didn’t just want to tell a story, I wanted it to be informative, therapeutic, and healing. Researching on how to help children have positive childhood experiences was important to me because I wanted this book to be a useful tool for educators and people who work with children. I wanted them to be able to impact the lives of children by providing children the experiences that will be most beneficial to set them up for success later in life.
Do you have a profession besides writing?
I never thought I would write a children’s book. It hasn’t been a lifelong passion of mine. It just happened. I have been a teacher for most of my life; first as an elementary school and middle school teacher, and secondly as a teacher educator at the college and university level. Most of my career I have taught mathematics to students pursuing their degree in elementary education, but I have always loved writing and find it enjoyable. When the pandemic shut the world down for a while, I found the time to think about this book and that’s when I decided to write Punk’s story. I saw a gap in children’s literature that I thought I could fill but writing Punk’s Plight. I really wanted it to be a beautiful story for some, but for others, I knew it would be a powerful message saying, “You can recover. You can live a good life and learn to love and trust again.”
Tell us about Pumpkin.
Just like the story says, my family was lucky enough to be the ones to adopt Pumpkin after she was rescued by the Pacific Northwest Bulldog Rescue. Punk nearly died before she came to us, as she was so badly sick and neglected. In the book, Xavier rescues her and helps her heal. In real life, it was a lovely lady named Amity who took her in and helped her recover. We got Punk when she was nearly 2. She was so small and cute and just wanted love. I have hundreds of pictures of her sleeping on top of or next to one of my three boys. She was a tiny couch potato, an avid co-pilot in any car you would let her in, and the loudest snorer/bed hog in the world. She was always nervous around new people and very protective of her boys. Her love for them was greater than her fear of a stranger. We had eight wonderful years with her. She passed quietly one night in our house. We will be forever grateful for our time with her. I miss her every single day.
Why do we need another book about dogs?
I don’t know many people who don’t love animals. Most people I know especially love dogs. Why? — Loyalty? Cuteness? Kindness? I don’t know, but there is something, at least for me, healing and therapeutic about dogs. Research shows petting animals can decrease blood pressure, lower heart rates, lower stress levels, relax people simply through petting them, and provide emotional and mental support. I can’t imagine not being drawn to a dog who is wagging its tail, tongue out, smiling with its entire being. For me, there is nothing better than the unconditional love that a dog gives.
How did you select your illustrator?
When I first decided I wanted to make this book I had a lot of specific ideas about how I wanted it to look. I didn’t want it to be a cartoon because I knew the topic did not lend itself to that. I wanted beautiful but honest images and calming and peaceful colors. I looked at several artists, but I was drawn to Susi’s work, and I really liked the idea that we were both Oregonians. I wanted to be able to connect with the illustrator. We brainstormed ideas, and Susi made thumbnail sketches. Then we would discuss and revise and then she would draw them freehand with pencil. Once we agreed on the sketches, she would set to water coloring them. I love the originals where you can see the pencil lines. It was great to work so smoothly with someone I had just met, and we are really excited to start our next book!
Lisa Everyday Reads 
Thank you for being a part of our tour and reading Punk’s Plight
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