Puppy Day Jitters is a rhyming picture book that follows an anxious puppy’s first day of school, teaching children to face fear with empathy, courage, and connection. Why was this an important book for you to write?

I created the Pawsome Pals book series to help children navigate big feelings and to foster empathy. The inspiration for my books is to offer encouragement to all children, and that after reading a Pawsome Pals book, children and their parents will feel better about themselves and the world around them. With back-to-school season quickly approaching, Puppy Day Jitters is a perfect addition to books addressing the first day of school with the purpose of calming those first day nerves. Starting something new may bring on many new emotions and by reading Puppy Day Jitters, I hope to offer reassurance, comfort and understanding by knowing that we are not alone in experiencing these emotions.

What inspired you to write Puppy Day Jitters, and is Dolce based on a real dog?

My inspiration behind all that I do is my own two incredibly bright children. In Puppy Day Jitters, the characters are inspired by my daughter, Sophia, and our dog, Dolce. With a mission to encourage discussion about the universal experience of being anxious or nervous, Puppy Day Jitters promotes empathy and addresses emotions that go with starting something new. My hope is for the book to be a source of comfort for those facing first day nerves, but also a reminder that compassion and support are worth celebrating. With the Pawsome Pals series, my goal is for children to not only talk about their feelings, but also to offer lifelong advantages of building better relationships, greater self-esteem and a stronger foundation for learning.

Can you share your collaboration process with illustrator Ada Konewki. How did you bring Dolce’s emotions to life visually?

Ada Konewki is an extremely talented illustrator. She has this amazing ability to make the visions I have for the Pawsome Pals books come to life through her exceptional creativity and beautiful drawings. Using a picture book template, I share my illustration ideas for each page with Ada, and she takes my words and creates them into engaging visuals that captivate young readers. When we need a worried Dolce or a comforted Dolce to match the words in the story, Ada nails each emotion through her illustrations. For Puppy Day Jitters, I also provided Ada with a picture of the real-life Sophia and Dolce for her own inspiration in creating the characters. I absolutely could not imagine the Pawsome Pals books without Ada and her charming and exquisite illustrations.

What strategies or conversations do you hope caregivers and educators will have with children after reading this book?

Picture books can be a valuable tool in helping children grow in self-esteem and positively managing their own emotions. After reading Puppy Day Jitters, my hope is that discussions can begin both at home and in the classroom to help young readers handle transitions, such as starting school for the first time and experiencing something new. If a nervous puppy who gains comfort and support from her friend while facing a new experience helps one child know they are not alone, then Puppy Day Jitters has served its important and intended purpose!

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