Today we are doing something different from our usual fare, we’re reviewing a book written by the award winning author, Dorothy Wills-Raftery. Dorothy is one of the premier lay people on canine epilepsy and one with whom I became acquainted with nearly 10 years ago following the rescue of Elsa, my Standard Poodle shortly after her epilepsy diagnosis came following her adoption. Elsa has now been a “Ninja Angel” for 5 months (gosh…where has the time gone?) and not a day goes by that I don’t think about her and still miss her every single day. Dorothy’s blog and all the resources she shared got me through some dark times trying to help keep Elsa well and live a good life despite the diagnosis. She made me realize that epi-dogs can live great lives despite the diagnosis. I shall forever be grateful for her support, knowledge and shared resources.When Elsa passed away in early Spring, it was shortly thereafter that Dorothy released her latest book “Wolfie, What Is The Rainbow Bridge?” When Dorothy hosted a promotional drawing for a copy of the book, I entered, never imaging that I’d win and was beyond honored and thrilled to receive a copy, especially given that my great granddaughter’s own pup is now showing her age and our family will need for a loving explanation once Nala earns her wings. Knowing how hard Elsa’s passing was on me as an adult, I was thrilled to see a book written expressly for children to help them cope with this life inevitability. The fact that it was written by one of my favorite people in Blogville who just happens to be an award winning author and one of the kindest humans I know…well, I knew a review was in order and think this lovely and gentle book could be a wonderful resource to share with any small child when the time comes to address the loss of a pet.
When it arrived, I was excited to try to read it to my great granddaughter but being the independent little miss that she is, she sat down and carefully went through each page as if she was reading its message on her own.
Wilson also took a gander and was particularly smitten with Dorothy’s co-author, her 7 year old grandson.
This book is ever so gentle and handles a tough topic about the passing of a beloved pet with the little people in our lives. I was quite touched at how thoughtful and tender it approached the subject. At just 50 pages it’s a small enough book to keep young readers engaged and it’s beautifully illustrated with precious photos as well as questions to answer that will help process the loss of a pet.
I cannot recommend this lovely book more. In the US, as adults we tend to gloss over the topic of death and it can be a challenge on how one should explain it to a child when their companion earns its wings. This book will make that hard topic more understandable on an emotionally charged subject.
About Dorothy Wills-Raftery:
Dorothy is a PhotoJournalist, Romance Author, K9 Author, Children’s Book Author and Editor
Romance Author at Woman’s World
Author – Chicken Soup for the Soul Book Series & Rosie the Riveter Book Series
Author/Creator FiveSibes.com
Book Author of the following:
Wolfie, What is the Rainbow Bridge?
EPIc Dog Tales: Heartfelt Stories About Amazing Dogs Living and Loving Life with Canine Epilepsy
Getting Healthy With Harley: Learning About Health & Fitness
What’s Wrong With Gibson? Learning About K-9 Epilepsy
Buddy, The Christmas Husky: Based on a True Holiday Miracle
Dorothy has been published in these publications:
Petful, 4Knines, AmericanPet Magazine, Hudson Valley Paw Prints
Sled Dogger Magazine, Kings River Life Magazine, The Wedding Journal, In Focus Magazine, Ulster Magazine, Times Herald-Record
The Daily Freeman
She is the Founder/Author of #LiveGibStrong 💜 K9 Epilepsy Awareness & Education and a recipient of DWAA Maxwell Medallion “Excellence” for FiveSibes Blog & #LiveGibStrong K9 Epilepsy Resource Library and author of #Paws4Purple initiative for PurpleDay®️ Every Day/Anita Kaufmann Foundation and is an International PurpleDay®️ for K9 Epilepsy Ambassador Since 2012
You can follow Dorothy at: FiveSibes Siberian Husky K9 News & Reviews page on Facebook.
Live, love, bark! 🐾 💜 🐾
Mee-yow Miss Dorothy has MAYJOR CRED Miss Monika!!!!
Wee did not nose shee iss ”Chick-hen Soup” an ”Rosie” Author….wee so amazed!!!
Wee new shee was Five Sibess Meowmy an yore guud frend.
This book looks pawtastick….
***purrss*** BellaDharma an ((hugss)) BellaSita Mum
Monika, thank you *so* much for the wonderful review! I am truly touched by not just your lovely words and compliments (blush-blush), but the gorgeous photos of your beautiful great-granddaughter and sweet Wilson reading my book! So precious! I just showed my grandson and he is tickled pink! Thank you so much, and many thanks to all of your readers for leaving such kind words. Cody and I sure hope others will find this book helpful, especially knowing it comes straight from our hearts. xoxo
Thank you, Dorothy. Your kindness has been such a beacon for the past 10 years. And I’m truly touched by your Grandson’s efforts in telling a much needed story for children of all ages. Hugs and tail wags from me and Wilson.
What a great book review, and pictures of your great-granddaughter and Wilson. Excellent readers🐱Double Pawkisses for a Happy Weekend to all of you🐾😽💞
Many thanks, Peachy, Faye and Granny. Apart from the wonderfully positive message of the book, it is good to see her love of books at such an early age. Have a lovely weekend.
Sounds like a remarkably sensitive and beautiful way of explaining what sometimes feels like the unexplainable…….The Rainbow Bridge was one of the first things I learned about when I became a Cat Mom and it made losing a beloved pet a less painful experience somehow.
Hugs, Pam
It truly is a lovely way to help small kids understand about the Rainbow Bridge. The conversations Dorothy had with her grandson were very touching. 😻
It sounds like a fabulous resource.
Thanks. It really is a terrific resource and was done ever so gently for tender little peeps.
Your great granddaughter is adorable, I was stunned by how much she has grown! Wasn’t she born last week?? 😉
Thanks for the sweet comment.
LOL it sure seems like it. I blinked and she turned 1 right after that pic.
Your granddaughter is adorable. It sounds like an excellent book. XO
Thanks Ellen. She’s something special and already loves books!
This post is lovely all the way around.
You gave a great review to what sounds like a very special book. And then your lovely little lady got in on the action too! And of course, debonair Wilson even chimed in . . .
Bravas and Bravos!
Many thanks, Marc. She’s quite the pistol but what is that expression…the nut doesn’t fall very far from the tree 😂 Still, I love that someone addressed the issue for little people even if they’re so grown up and already fiercely independent. 😉
Hahaha! No it does not.
It’s true, this is a difficult situation for little people to wrap their heads around because let’s face it, it ain’t much easier for the grown ups.
You got that right!
Great post mama. I am signing off for the week shortly so I’ll catch ya on the flip side of next weekish!
You have a groovy time away!
Thanks mama
How sweet to see your granddaughter ‘reading’ this wonderful book!
Our kids were toddlers when we lost our Simba, we were out of town and come back to only one kitty…that was hard to explain to a 2 and 4 year old…it was a wee bit easier when we lost Groucho, they were pre teens then.
Thanks for a great review, and we hope it helps a lot when ‘the time’ comes.
Thanks so much. She so independent and always wants to turn the pages herself. it’s hard enough trying to process the loss when you’re an adult…I can’t imagine how kids handle it since death isn’t in their reference house. Dorothy is a wonderful person and has done so much for blogville over the years, my recommendation was the least I could do for her.
A lovely review of an important book, Monika. All the best to Dorothy.
As always, you’re very kind, John. It’s a great resource to help explain a tough subject for little people.
My old vet in CO sent me a lovely sympathy card with a poem version of the rainbow bridge story inside. I still keep it up on my bulletin board. Makes me cry every time I read it.
It’s definitely a hankie inducing poem. I know just how you feel when you read it.
The Rainbow Bridge has brought so much comfort to me and many others. Love the idea of this book.
The fact that it’s written by and for children was what was so compelling for me.
I heard that is a good book. Dorothy is very special and her dedication to her causes is amazing!
Thanks, Terry. Dorothy is very special and provided me with support and loads of resources over the years for Elsa’s benefit. I’m so grateful to have been able to provide a review for her.
Lulu: “That’s a great review of a book by an old friend!”
Thanks, Lulu. Yes, Dorothy is a wonderful human in Blogville who just happens to be a terrific writer as well.
I hope that book will be published in Europe too.
European Amazon may be able to carry it, I should think but not certain for sure.
I was 13 when my first pet died. It was traumatic. I had already lost my beloved dad. I was afraid to attach to any living thing for fear they would vanish. It took a while until I could get another pet. Sure wish there would have been something to help with the grief.
That’s a very hard age to lose a pet, not to mention being younger when your Dad passed. Our society doesn’t handle the topic of death very well anyway and think children are particularly vulnerable. It’s a very sweet book that helps children understand better.
Thanks for the recommendation! And Wilson, can you read? Such a smart dog!
Thanks, Martha. It’s a lovely book authored by a special human that can help tackle a difficult topic. P.S. Wilson could probably even read Braille if he put his floofy head to it.