Mountain Mutts-Joy’s Tale is an award-winning picture book for children ages 4-11. Parents and teachers will appreciate the universal themes of friendship, death, tolerance, helping others, and the excitement of learning to do something difficult.

Winter, Spring, and Joy are the names of the dogs in the story. Words along with colorful photographs bring the dogs and the mountain setting to life showing the pain of loss Spring feels when Winter dies, Spring’s emotions when a new puppy comes into the home, and how puppy Joy ultimately wins reluctant Spring’s friendship.

Stephens is an award-winning author and photographer living in the mountains with her husband and dogs.