The Reviews
from child specialists...
"This is an appropriate book that is artfully and beautifully written to convey the beauty of the relationship between father and son, the changes that take place from sickness and the integration of Dog as caretaker, ambassador and link to his father. My favorite part is the way the book presents the "big word" - grief - and I can see it as a tool between social workers/counselors and children where it is used as in a learning and coping environment. Overall, this book had many themes that resonate. Talking with loved ones even after death, looking to the stars for comfort, "listening" for answers in your heart and dreaming about heaven are all safe suggestions to present to a child who is otherwise trying to make sense of it all."
Cindy Campbell of Solving Kids' Cancer and Donna Ludwinski of Solving Kids' Cancer
"Allow me to congratulate you on a well written, entertaining, yet simple enough to get the message across book, on how to deal with loss. Usually grief books for children focus on the loss of a pet which leaves the adult to correlate it to the loss of a loved one. However, this book was "real" in the sense that it named the disease that took Joe's father away, which answered the why, and it gave a method of coping by suggesting to look at the North Star and think of fond memories, which is always suggested by myself. I liked that you mentioned that Cancer is usually cured, because should the child in the future have another person who suffers from Cancer, he/she doesn't automatically assume that they are going to die. The reading level in on point with the age group. I especially appreciated the "Big Meaning and Discussion" areas which is perfect for Counselors to continue the discussion with the student after reading the book or it may be used as reflection questions for students to respond to in a personal diary or journal. This book is surely a must have for Counselors in elementary schools to deal with grief. Looking forward to reading more stories with Joey and Dog."
C. Petit-D'Onofrio, Elementary School Counselor
"'Dog' and his magic key have opened wonderful conversations on kindness, fairness, and the power of using our imaginations in my classroom. The children are waiting for more adventures!"
Christine Lee, NYC Literacy Teacher
"I really enjoyed this wonderful book about Joe and his family's grieving process after his dad died from cancer. I appreciated Debbie's use of direct language when talking about death, dying, and cancer. There are not many books out there that use those words, instead alluding to death by saying 'pass away' or 'went away', which often confuses and scares children. I also loved the message that when someone we love dies, their love will live on in us. We can remember memories and hear stories about them, which will sometimes make us laugh but may also make us cry, and that¹s okay! This book normalizes the grieving process in a way that is completely relatable to kids. I am always looking for new books to use in my counseling sessions, and I am excited to add "How Dog Got His Key" to my shelf!"
Amy, School Psychologist, M.A., Ed.M., NCSP
"A+ for Creativity! What an amazing way to help children express their emotions. I am looking forward to reading Dogs adventures. As a Parent and an Educator this is a definite book that I will always have on my Shelf!!!"
Tricia Toscano, Educator
