Jean Baur's Blog

Today Rudy (my therapy dog) and I returned to the middle school special education classroom where we volunteered last year. It was especially fun to be there as I brought a copy of my new book, “Read to Rudy” with me, and either read it to the students, or had them read it to me. It occured to me that I was really lucky as there is no better way to learn as a children’s book author. One girl had trouble with a few words, but really loved the illustrations and photos, especially as Rudy was lying by her feet. A few of the students couldn’t read, but were happy listening to Rudy’s story. And of course lots of dog treats were involved, and at the end of each child’s time with Rudy, he did a few tricks. Some dog!

As my new children’s book about my therapy dog, Rudy, is just out, I thought I’d focus my blog for the next few weeks on him. He’s nine, has been certified and working for the past eight years, and is amazing at his work.

Here’s what happened today at our local hospital. We were in the ER and had visited a few patients. I saw a woman in one of the rooms, and couldn’t tell if she was asleep or awake. Sitting next to her was a younger woman who I guessed was her daughter. I asked, “Would you like a visit from Rudy?” The daughter nearly leapt out of her chair, she was so excited. When we got close enough for her to pat Rudy, she burst into tears. I waited.

When she could talk, she said, “My dog’s name was Rudy and he died a few weeks ago.” Rudy looked up at her with his deep brown eyes and her hand kept stroking his back. I said something, but it was Rudy who told her with his simple presence, his boundless kindness, that she would be all right. Not now, not for a while, but eventually.

That in a nutshell is the magic of therapy dogs. We visited with her mother and by the time we left the room, she wasn’t crying.

So excited that my book about my therapy dog, Rudy, is finally available. It’s been a long road with a lot of ups and downs, but book one: Arrival launched this past Saturday and is now available on Amazon. Rudy is nine years old and has been working in schools, hospitals, nursing homes and colleges for the past eight years. Like my first therapy dog, Bella, he is amazing and seems to know exactly what each person needs.

Written for ages 4-8, it’s a 32 page picture book that combines illustrations and photos of Rudy–a real challenge for my wonderful illustrator, Ginda Citra, who is from Indonesia. At the end of the book are some special pages–one telling the true story behind the book, and another, the research from two experts in the fieild about why reading to dogs makes such a profound difference. Please tell your friends and especially children’s librarians about the book.

P.S. Rudy and I are being interviewed on Channel 8, WTNH here in Connecticut this afternoon by Ann Nyberg. The show will air this afternoon at 4:30.

So excited to finally have a logo for my publishing company: Salt Cove Publications. In a year and a half I’ve published two board books: “What Do Toes Do?” and “What Does Your Nose Do?” and am about to launch the first book in a series of picture books for children ages 4-8: “Read to Rudy, Book I: Arrival.” For more information, check my website: JeanBaur.com.

P.S. Rudy is my therapy dog!

This is how the magic happens: a dog, a book, a quiet space. So proud of my therapy dog, Rudy, who takes part in a wonderful program at my local library: Reading to Rudy. Children pick out a book to read to Rudy, read for about 10 minutes (or if they can’t read, show him the pictures and make up a story), and then we have 5 minutes of tricks and treats. Rudy shows off his super tricks and the kids give him treats. Can you imagine a teacher who is as much fun as this? Stay tuned for my new book about Rudy coming out next month: Read to Rudy.

It’s been exciting to be part of two Farmers’ Markets here in Eastern Connecticut. Like the other vendors, I have a canopy, a table and chair and am getting good at both setting up and breaking everything down and packing it in my car. Good news–I’m the only one selling books, and interest in my two board books has been strong. Yesterday in Niantic I met some wonderful people, bought my first corn on the cob of the season and sold a dozen books. What’s really fun is that I have a bubble “gun”, so when I see babies or toddlers coming near my table, I surround them with bubbles and give older children free coloring pages based on my books.

I also sell baby hats made my friend Shirley and together with the books, it’s a great gift for new families.

Yes, this is me reading one of my new board books to my dogs Rudy and Dixie. For those of you in Connecticut, please join me at the Happiness Community for our May Happiness Club event 
Wednesday, May 20 at 7 pm 
Hubley Hall, First Congregational Church of Madison

We welcome local author,
 Jean Baur who will be speaking about: The Strange Road to Happiness

Jean Baur, local author and publisher, will speak at our upcoming May Happiness Club meeting. She has written several books for both adults and children, and learned the hard way how to transform rejection and frustration into what she calls “little books making a big difference.”

Personal, funny, and upbeat, you don’t want to miss this session. Jean’s books will be on display and for sale after the talk, and you can learn more about her background on her website: https://jeanbaur.com/ 

My second board book in the series is out and has in just a few weeks made a splash! Five copies are on their way to Indonesia for Ginda Citra, my illustrator. Four copies have been delivered to my team at my local library, and one has been given to my favorite toddler, Emilia, who inspired these books. And the encouraging news is that that stores that took the first book, “What Do Toes Do?”, have all agreed to carry “What Does Your Nose Do?” This includes Bank Square Books, The Blue Horse and Franklin’s General Store in Mystic, The Stonington Free Library, and Seaside Pharmacy in Westerly. And a bookstore in Yardley, PA where I used to live, The Commonplace Reader is carrying both books, as well as a new bookstore in Manlius, N. Y. called Of Moose and Mind. If you’d like a copy, please check out my website: https://JeanBaur.com. Join the celebration!

Exciting news: my second board book will be out in a few weeks and is for sale now! Check out my website, and click on the second tab: Dogs and Books. (JeanBaur.com). You can preorder and be one of the first to receive “What Does Your Nose Do?” It’s already had a fantastic review from a special education teacher.

So exciting to be interviewed by our local CT station. Check it out. It’s a fun look at my board book, “What Do Toes Do?”, why I wrote it, and how a little book is making a big difference.

https://www.wtnh.com/on-air/nyberg/nyberg-stonington-authors-little-book-asking-big-question/amp