GET READY FOR "READ TO RUDY"
What can be better than a dog who helps children as they learn to read? Rudy is Jean's therapy dog, and at last has his own book: "Read to Rudy/Book I: Arrival." Launch date is August 29, 2026 and you can order it online on the next tab. What makes this book special is that it's based on Rudy's eight years of work as a therapy dog and that it promotes literacy. Two top experts contributed to the end pages and share why reading to dogs makes such a huge difference. It's beautifully illustrated and also has photos of Rudy as a puppy. The story will delight young children as they learn about Rudy's difficult voyage from his home in Tennessee, to a shelter in New England. Stay tuned for Book II: A New Home coming out in 2027.

The first book in Jean's series of board books came out in October, 2025, and has found its way to some amazing places. She has donated copies to a NICU in Springfield, MA, for a community baby shower sponsored by The Elks, to every library in Connecticut, as well as to Read to Grow--a literacy organization in Branford, CT, and to the Alliance for Family Support. She recently also gave books to A Sacred Place--an organization that inspires hope for incarcerated women at York Correctional Institution and provides books and other gifts for their newborns. Her books are for sale in Connecticut at Bank Square Books in Mystic--they have signed copies, as well as The Blue Horse Children's Shop, also in Mystic, Franklin's General Store in Mystic Village and Celebrations in Deep River. The Stonington Free Library has copies for sale. In Rhode Island, the board books can be found at The Fun Store and Seaside Pharmacy in Westerly, as well as at Wakefield Books in the Wakefield Mall. And of course you can buy both books online. Please check the next tab, Dogs and Books to order. I m available for speaking events including bookclubs, writers workshops, and publishing forums, and storytime at libraries, schools, and community organizations. And yes, I make it fun with free coloring pages and bubbles.

A LITTLE HISTORY: My great-great-great grandfather, John Ireland Howe, was an inventor, and after working as a physician at Bellevue Hospital in New York City, he became too ill to continue his career in medicine. After many failures, he invented a rotary machine that made straight pins - something in high demand in those days. His machine revolutionized the making of pins and made them affordable. He was recognized by the Smithsonian Institution and has always been an inspiration to me.

While I don t have a factory, I have in the past year founded a publishing company: Salt Cove Publications, and produced two books. I've hired both an illustrator and an editor and hope to continue our collaboration for both the remaining board books, and a new series about my therapy dog, Rudy. Those will be picture books for ages 4-8 titled "Read to Rudy." The first book is subtitled: "Arrival", and should be out by late summer of 2026. Stay tuned!