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Defuse, Don’t Escalate
Pippin and the Prickly Dilemma follows a kind-hearted little dog who is bullied by a larger dog, and he faces a difficult choice that reveals the true power of empathy, forgiveness, and doing what’s right. Why do you think it’s important for children to see examples of empathy in difficult situations?
Typically, children can be quite selfish and often see humour in other people’s discomfort. Showing a child that putting yourself in the other person’s shoes (being empathetic) usually results in a better outcome for all and builds feelings of connection.
Meatball begins as a bully but grows—how did you approach writing his transformation in a believable way?
Meatball needed to be shown that despite his aggressive and bullying behaviour, others would still come to his aid when he needed help. This gave him the motivation to rethink and adjust his own attitude and come to realize that it is better to cooperate and enjoy the company of others rather than trying to dominate.
The story introduces intimidation in a way that feels safe for young readers. How did you balance seriousness with reassurance?
Young children can be easily upset by scary, bullyish behaviour. I aimed to show that Pippin’s positive reactions, though not instantly changing Meatball’s actions, paved the way for him to later adjust his outlook towards his new companions.
What do you hope children understand about making good choices when they’ve been treated unfairly?
I hope that children will learn that it is important to employ strategies to defuse aggressive and bullying behaviour rather than to escalate them.
Author Website
Find out in this exciting ‘doggy’ adventure.
This picture book features interactive elements.
Pippin and the Prickly Dilemma
Pippin and the Prickly Dilemma by Julia Seaborn is a charming, heartfelt children’s story about a small dog named Pippin and his loyal friend, Blossom the possum. What begins as a simple trip to the park soon unfolds into an unexpected adventure. The story opens with a situation that will feel familiar to many young readers: meeting someone new who is not especially kind. When Pippin and Blossom encounter Meatball, a much larger dog who barks at them because of their size, the book introduces intimidation and unfair judgment in a gentle, accessible way.
What makes this story especially meaningful is its strong emphasis on kindness in the face of unkindness. The narrative does not simply dwell on events. Instead, it draws attention to the choices the characters make, and that is where its message shines most clearly. Pippin and his friends respond with compassion, even when compassion is not deserved. As a result, Meatball’s eventual accountability feels earned, sincere, and believable. The story suggests that empathy can soften hostility. It shows that offering help, even to someone who has treated you poorly, can open the door to growth and understanding. That moral feels organic rather than forced, which makes it all the more powerful for young readers. Beyond the story itself, the book also includes enjoyable extras such as a maze, trivia questions, and interesting facts about dogs, adding an educational dimension to its entertainment value.
Richard Hoit’s illustrations add another layer of warmth and perfectly complement the tone of the story. The artwork is colorful, inviting, and undeniably cute, making the book instantly appealing to young audiences. One of its greatest strengths is the animals’ expressiveness. Their emotions are clear and easy to read, whether they are showing confrontation, concern, or joy. These visual details make the story even more accessible, especially for children who are still building confidence in their reading skills.
Pippin and the Prickly Dilemma is a wonderful choice for young readers, parents, and educators seeking a story that promotes empathy, forgiveness, and friendship. It is highly recommended for children who enjoy animal-centered stories with meaningful lessons and interactive elements that continue the experience beyond the final page.
Pages: 32 | ASIN : B0GNZFSZ36
Pippin’s Outback Adventure
Pippin’s Outback Adventure by Julia Seaborn is about a brave little black poodle named Pippin who goes on a camping trip in the Australian outback. Along the way, he makes friends with all sorts of animals—kangaroos, koalas, wombats, even budgies!—and ends up helping a dingo family during a big, scary dust storm. It’s a story about kindness, bravery, and working together, all wrapped up in a fun animal-filled journey.
I loved the cozy beginning with Pippin by the campfire. It felt like a classic camping tale but with just enough mystery to make it fun for kids. That whole scene where the dingoes show up and ask for water? Heart-melty stuff. My kid was glued to the page, and I’ll admit, I was too. It’s such a gentle way to introduce empathy—Pippin doesn’t hesitate to share. And it’s not preachy. It’s just nice. The artwork is so bright and full of color, and I absolutely loved how we could see every one of Pippin’s emotions.
The part with the dust storm was written in a way that feels adventurous but not too scary. I liked how Pippin didn’t just hide in the cave—he actually ran back out into the storm to rescue the dingo pups he met earlier. I loved when he says, “We look out for each other at home, and we look out for each other in the outback too.” It’s such a simple message, but it really lands.
Also, the variety of animals was a hit at bedtime. We had to stop and look up pictures of budgies and wombats afterward. The book even includes some fun animal facts and questions at the end, which gave us a chance to talk more about what we read. Hopscotch the kangaroo, with her tail-balancing tricks and friendly nature, was definitely a favorite character in our house.
Pippin’s Outback Adventure is a warm, adventurous children’s book that celebrates friendship and teamwork. It’s perfect for kids around 4 to 8, especially animal lovers or curious little explorers. Honestly, if you’re a parent who likes books that teach kindness in fun ways without hitting you over the head with it, this one’s worth picking up. Plus, it might just make you want to plan a trip to the outback.
Pages: 32 | ASIN : B0DY13YVB3
Pippin’s Space Adventure (A Poodle Called Pippin)
Pippin’s Space Adventure by Julia Seaborn is a delightful tale that whisks young readers on an imaginative journey through the cosmos. The story follows the curious Pippin, a poodle with a passion for stargazing, and his friend Blossom the Possum. Each night, Pippin dreams of traversing the universe, leading to a dream sequence where he finds himself aboard a spaceship, accompanied by Jelly, a friendly monster who turns out to be Pippin’s own stuffed toy.
Seaborn’s narrative is both captivating and educational, striking a balance between whimsy and learning. The adventure is filled with close encounters, like skillfully navigating through asteroid fields, which keeps the pace lively and engaging. This book’s charm is further enhanced by its vibrant illustrations that vividly bring the story to life, reminiscent of watching a cartoon. A unique aspect of this book is its educational content. Lessons about space, including the solar system, planets, and shooting stars, are seemingly woven into the narrative. This informative approach makes Pippin’s Space Adventure a delightful read and a valuable educational resource suitable for classroom settings. The book concludes with a thoughtful addition – a section aimed at testing the readers’ comprehension. This, along with a bonus coloring page, invites young readers to interact with the story beyond just reading, enhancing their engagement and understanding.
Julia Seaborn’s Pippin’s Space Adventure is a charming, imaginative, and informative read that will captivate and educate young minds, making it a worthy addition to any child’s bookshelf or classroom library.
Pages: 33 | ASIN : B0CNST69WL
Pippin Goes Snowboarding
Mummy has planned a day of new experiences for Pippin, and he cannot wait to see what the day brings! First on their list is snow. Pippin has never seen snow, and he is mesmerized. His curiosity gets the best of him when he sees his very first snowman, but a long-necked bird sets him straight following a few curious licks. After Emy the emu educates Pippin about snow, he meets Luna, the dog who introduces him to the idea of snowboard racing. Pippin’s fun day in the snow is about to get even more interesting!
Pippin Goes Snowboarding is the fourth book in Julia Seaborn’s A Poodle Called Pippin series and is illustrated by Richard Hoit. Hoit’s precious illustration truly captures the excitement and novelty of main character Pippin’s experiences. Seaborn’s storyline offers young readers everything from suspenseful moments to encouragement to share with others. In addition, Pippin’s adventure helps young readers better understand how to make new friends and deal with the fear of trying something new.
I am giving Pippin Goes Snowboarding, written by Julia Seaborn and illustrated by Richard Hoit, 5 out of 5 stars. The author has included a wonderful list of comprehension questions that can be used to facilitate classroom discussions. I can see this book, and the entire Pippin series, as a teaching tool in grades K-3. I highly recommend Seaborn and Hoit’s work for any parent or teacher looking to incorporate a new author into their regular rotation of read-alouds.
Pages: 32 | ASIN: B0BFVVX3VD
Pippin’s Night-time Adventure
It is nighttime, and Pippins’s friend Blossom, the possum, asks him to join her as she goes out to see her friends. Having never been out at night, Pippin eagerly goes out to explore. They head down to the river, where they meet a wombat named Waddle, a fruit bat named Pixie, and a platypus named Platy. While exploring the river area, Pippin winds up in trouble, and his new friends must save him. This is an adventure Pippin will not forget.
Author Julia Seaborn continues her saga of Pippin’s adventures with the picture book Pippin’s Night-time Adventure. This creative story introduces young readers to several animals that live around a river. With charming illustrations from Richard Hoit, the river animals come to life while teaching readers about the animals that Pippin encounters. Seaborn uses Pippin’s conversations with the animals to educate readers about them, so Pippin is learning with readers. This helps kids really feel like part of the story.
Children will love how expressive all the animals are in the story. Each page has bold colors and detailed illustrations. So when the animals explain about themselves, children can see details like the wombat’s claws, the fruit bat’s fur and wings, and the platypus nose. This is a great way to introduce life around a river to an elementary class in a fun way.
When Pippen ends up in trouble, the animals all work together to save him. Teachers will love that this amazing children’s book teaches the values of teamwork and friendship even though they are all very different animals.
Pippin’s Night-time Adventure is a heartwarming picture book that will have children learning about all the animals and the value of teamwork and friendship. Children will love the images, and the fun story as all the animals meet Pippin and share their home at the river with him.
Pages: 32 | ASIN : B09R46HT8S
A Poodle Called Pippin
Pippin Moves to the City continues the story of Pippin’s adventures and presents him with the challenge of making new friends. What was the inspiration for your story?
This story is loosely based on our real life experience of moving back to the city from a country property.
Aside from Pippin, what was your favorite character to write for in this book?
Blossom the possum, Pippin’s first friend in this book.
What is the most difficult part of your writing process?
Creating the initial story line concept.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
Book 3 “Pippin’s Night-time Adventure” is now available as a New Release.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website
Pippin Moves to the City
Pippin Moves to the City is the second book in the series, A Poodle Called Pippin. On this adventure, Pippin finds out his family is moving from the country to the city. He is very nervous about this move and dislikes everything from the start. Pippin is sad that he had to leave all his friends and worries he will not make new ones. When night comes, he becomes afraid when he hears a sound in the walls. It turns out there is nothing to fear; it is just a possum named Blossom, and she becomes Pippin’s first new friend. The following day Pippen races off to the beach, and there he discovers all kinds of new animals and adventures.
This heartwarming picture book written by Julia Seaborn is perfect for preschoolers and early elementary school-age kids. It introduces them to the concept of moving, addresses their fears, and shows them that things can work out, sometimes even better than before. Learning how to make new friends is also challenging and scary. Pippen shows young readers that they do not have to be afraid to meet new friends. Meeting the new animals shows diversity and inclusion; there are a lot of lessons in this creative children’s book.
Richard Hoit illustrates this light-hearted story with vivid colors detailed drawings and makes the animals come to life. Animals like a possum, seals, foxes, and a butterfly. These whimsical illustrations work well with the storyline and will keep children engaged in this marvelous book.
At the end of this beautifully written book, there are activities included. The author consists of twelve questions for readers to answer about the story and what they learned in the book. There is also a butterfly maze that kids can do and a link for more butterfly crafts. Lastly, a possum facts for children page teaches kids some fun facts about Blossom.
Pippin Moves to the City is a beautiful picture book that teachers and parents will adore. It is a fantastic introduction to moving, making friends, and experiencing new things on a level that small children can understand.
Pages: 32 | ASIN : B09LH7VNN3
