To Dogs, with Love

To Dogs, with Love: A Love Letter to the Dogs Who Help Us

Written by Maria Gianferrari

Illustrated by Ishaa Lobo

December 2023

Dear Dogs,

Thank you for being there when we are sick, or hurt, or in trouble.

Thank you for licks and hugs when we feel down or just need to smile.

Thank you for all that you do, for always being at our sides.

This is our love letter to you!

For Maria Gianferrari, dog love is the most pawsitive medicine of all! To Dogs, with Love is Maria’s seventh book featuring beloved canine characters, following Being a Dog: A Tail of Mindfulness, Operation Rescue Dog, Hello Goodbye Dog, Officer Katz and Houndini, and the mariagianferrari.com

is a children’s book illustrator based in London. Her work was highly commended for the Macmillan Prize for Illustration in 2018. Her art follows themes of nature, comfort, and snippets of everyday life, often drawing inspiration from her childhood. She loves exploring new cities, going on walks, and watching her favorite movies over and over again. ishaalobo.com

This digital copy has been distributed for promotional and review purposes only. No other uses are allowed, including but not limited to consumer viewing.

No sale or further distribution of this digital advance reader’s edition is permitted, except to others on your staff for review purposes only. Please do not post or share the link to this material. View and share it responsibly within your organization. We thank you for supporting the rights of our authors and artists in this endeavor. For more information, contact childrens.publicity@macmillan.com.

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• Outreach to Key Reviewers, Media, and School and Library Contacts

• Digital ARE Sent to Select Bloggers and Digital Influencers

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gital ARE Available on Edelweiss

For all the wonderful dogs that bring so much joy to our lives! —I. L. Published by Roaring Brook

Text copyright © 2023 by Maria Gianferrari. Illustrations copyright © 2023 by Ishaa Lobo. All rights reserved.

Our books may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact your local bookseller or the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at (800) 221-7945 ext. 5442 or by email at MacmillanSpecialMarkets@macmillan.com.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022920830

First edition, 2023

The illustrations in this book were created digitally using a tablet pencil. The type was set in Billy and Dancing Fool. The book was edited by Emily Feinberg, with art direction by Aram Kim and design by Melisa Vuong. The production editor was Mia Moran, and the production was supervised by Celeste Cass.

For Emily, a most pawsome editor and dog lover, and her beloved pups, Bissa and Winnie, with love —M. G.

Maria Gianferrari illustrated by Ishaa Lobo

Dear Dogs, Thank you for your tails

That whip and thump and pump, Even when they’re stubs—

They bring joy.

*ForReview PurposesOnly*

Thank you for your ears, Flat or pointed, Big or small, Soft as velvet— You listen to our stories. You lend confidence.

*ForReview PurposesOnly*

Thank you for your eyes, Brown or blue or in between. You watch and wait— You know what we need.

*ForReview

PurposesOnly*

*ForReview PurposesOnly*

*ForReview PurposesOnly*

Fuzzy for nuzzling, Gifting comfort.

Thank you for your paws,

High fives, handshakes.

*ForReview PurposesOnly*

Two paws up For prison pups— You give us purpose.

Thank you for your tongues, Wet and warm, Soft and slobbery and Sometimes stinky—

Your kisses help us Accept what we’ve lost, Hold close what remains.

Thank you for your noses, Brown Black Pink, Sometimes speckled, Leathery and lovely— *ForReview PurposesOnly*

They sniff out sadness, Show us gladness.

*ForReview

Thank you for your heads That rest on our beds or Your bodies that lie on our laps, Keeping us calm and connected.

Sometimes our feet are your pillows too— You are tried And true. *ForReview PurposesOnly*

Thank you for playing,

For sitting and staying.

And helping us sleep—

And being you.

*ForReview PurposesOnly*

*ForReview PurposesOnly*

*ForReview PurposesOnly*

*ForReview PurposesOnly*

Thank you, four-legged friends—

Three- and two-legged too.

This is our love letter . . .

*ForReview PurposesOnly*

*ForReview PurposesOnly*

A Note on Therapy Dogs

Therapy Dogs International is an organization dedicated to training therapy dogs to help humans cope with hardships and bring joy by visiting hospitals, hospices, and nursing homes, homeless shelters and shelters for families fleeing domestic abuse, as well schools and libraries for dog reading programs. They also have a Disaster Stress Relief program.

There are also a multitude of organizations that pair shelter dogs who would otherwise be euthanized with people who are incarcerated. They train and socialize the dogs so that they can better find their “furever” homes. Some programs, such as Puppies Behind Bars, are more extensive. The incarcerated handlers involved in this program train dogs to assist disabled veterans or detect explosives. These programs give incarcerated trainers skills, and the dogs provide unconditional love, hope, and a feeling of purpose. *ForReview PurposesOnly*

And remember: Please adopt, don’t shop!

One organization that inspired this book is the Lutheran Church Charities

K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry. This charity responds to communities in all kinds of crises by bringing in their team of dogs to help people begin their journey of healing with the power of dog love.

In honor of the publication of this book, a donation will be made to the LCC K-9 Comfort Dog Ministry to support their mission of bringing comfort and

Thank you, therapy dogs of all kinds!

Want to learn more about the types of dogs featured in this book?

Check out the resources below!

Therapy dogs

Foster social emotional learning and encourage empathy in the classroom: Mutt-i-grees education.muttigrees.org/where-it-works/schools

Bring comfort and cheer to residents of hospitals, nursing homes, and shelters and help them cope with illness, isolation, and stress: Therapy Dogs International tdi-dog.org/OurPrograms.aspx?Page=Hospitals+(Children%27s)

Support and sustain military veterans: Companions for Heroes companionsforheroes.org/who-we-are

Provide calm companionship in legal settings: courthousedogs.org

Offer training and bonding opportunities for incarcerated individuals: Marley’s Mutts Pawsitive Change marleysmutts.org/pawsitivechange

Lend love in times of crisis: LCC K-9 Comfort Dogs lutheranchurchcharities.org/k-9-comfort-dogs-about.html

And grief: Meet Kota moloneyfh.com/our-services/kota-therapy-dog

They are our best friends!: Meet friends Tupper and Lego blog.theautismsite.greatergood.com/dog-helps-autistic-boy-nightmares and follow their adventures on Instagram @tupperandlego

4 Paws for Ability

4pawsforability.org/autism-assistance-dog