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On May 6th, I visited Belair Primary School to have "Meet an Author" sessions with eighty students. Many students showed a keen interest in writing and in particular the process from start to finish in creating a picture book and putting in a publisher submission.
Afterwards, interested students were invited to return for an optional question session. The highlight of the morning was that so many students wanted to participate, and each showed so much enthusiasm and had interesting and well thought through questions to ask. Had it not been for the lunch bell, the session could have gone on indefinitely!
Thank you to the wonderful teachers who organised the visit and to the students who participated. Thanks also for feedback, which makes the day so worthwhile. A few feedback slips have been included below.
I look forward to visiting other schools during the course of the year to motivate young people to write.
“You really inspired me to write more. Layla.”
“I loved your presentation and I would love for you to come back again. I love writing and I can never stop. Georgia.”
“The presentation was amazing. You seem very loving of what you do and you showed that through the presentation. Thank you for coming to my school today. Charlize.”
“You did well in the sense that you talked about yourself and connected it to your writing. I learned a lot about the real publishing process. It was good you read your book to us. Thanks for coming, Gina. Matilda.”
“Great job explaining everything. Tyler.”
“I really enjoyed the part where you read the books and it was really interesting when you explained the steps of writing a book. Joel.”
“I think your books are going to change the way people think about dogs that are service dogs. I think your books are awesome. Erin.
Book So That’s What’s Happening! is being ordered by schools to assist in teaching the puberty component of the curriculum. This title is due for release in paperback in June and within a month of advising schools of this I have all but sold out! I look forward to feedback from schools when this new resource has been utilised within the classroom.
Companion book, So That’s How I Began! is newly released and selling well, and makes a good addition to the classroom library...
Please contact me for further information about these resources.
I am always thrilled to receive emails and letters from people who have purchased books. Some recent ones are below.
Your books arrived today – I’ve just read them and they are lovely. I’m sure our students will enjoy them and try to relate them to our school dog, Coco.
Ruth,
Library Officer
Halidon Primary School
Hi Gina
Your awesome books have just been sent to our school, Kingsley park Primary School for purchasing. I LOVE them, we just have a Therapy dog at our school so have come in super handy. (I am also promoting them with the crew I trained the dog with!!!! I did say I LOVE them)
Can you please send me one more of each as a personal order?
Many thanks
Gill
School Principal
Gina,
I have just read your 2nd book about Assistance Dogs.
Gina, I can only give you the highest praise for promoting the cause of people and assistance dogs.
I hope a third book will happen over time. You have the ability to impact on lives. Not everyone gets that opportunity. Keep up the good work.
Colleen
(Psychologist)
Gina, your ‘Next Door’s Dog’ series is an absolute must in any library collection! As we strive for inclusion for all, these books provide education for our students, highlighting diversity and promoting inclusion within the school and the community.
Deb,
Library Officer,
Tuart Rise Primary School
Gina, thanks to you for making it easier for our little ones to understand and pass on this knowledge.
Liz
Whisky’s Wish
A really useful, well written and well-illustrated book which gives children and their adult’s insight into the training and use of special needs dogs. This book gives readers an insight into the disabled and their assistant dogs.
Candle
"Next door's dog has a job” by Gina Dawson is a beautifully written story that educates young children of the important role service dogs play in our community. I am a pre-school teacher and when I read it to a group of 4 year old children they were very interested in the story. It certainly helped them develop an understanding of the difference between their own pet dogs and a dog that has been specially trained for a job. A credit to both the author and illustrator. I highly recommend this book
Rosemary,
Pre-school teacher.
A lovely Booktopia review from a person unknown to me:
Everyone, not only children, is who I'd love to read this book. I love that the assistance dog handler (note the book does use the American equivalent - service dog) has an INVISIBLE disability, and that this concept is covered gently and without being invasive. Also fantastic that many breeds of dog and different vest colours are illustrated, as the days when only Labradors were assistance dogs has long past. Excellent teaching of etiquette, and I also love that the welfare of the dog being so important to handlers is covered too. I rely on an assistance dog and know too well unfortunately the battles and difficulties we face out in public because so many are unaware of the things gently explained in this book.
TB
From kidspot.com.au:
My daughter wanted to go as a princess to Book Week.
She is four so naturally I could see why that was the best option in her little head to dress up like a princess for the day, but we challenged her to think about it and empowered her to think beyond the female stereotypes.
Instead she picked a book called Next Door’s Dog Has a Job, by Gina Dawson.
It was given to her by her aunty who has an assistance dog.
Before we left the house my daughter cried her eyes out because at the last minute she decided she wanted to be a princess because all the other girls would be pretty today and not her.
After she cried for 15 minutes and I cried for 15 minutes I called my sister and asked her if she could talk to my daughter to settle her on the phone.
Without a second thought my sister jumped in the car and drove an hour to meet us at the day care with her special dog Thaddeus, which I am so grateful for as I know some days just leaving the house is hard.
My sister put Thaddeus’ service vest on and took both of them into the classroom and read all the children the book...
Exciting times! Two new titles are to be released in January 2019, again with New Holland Publishers.
Next Door's Dog Goes to School is the second in the Next Door's Dog series, written to explain the many jobs that Roxie, a different type of Assistance Dog, performs for her young human companion, Grace. With Roxie at her side, Grace can do just about anything that other children do, including going to school. Beautifully illustrated by Vivienne da Silva.
So That's How I Began! The Facts About Where Babies Come From is the second in the So That's series, and illustrations by Alex Mankiewicz are sensitive whilst being quirky, interesting and humorous. Written in the same comfortable and easy to read style as So That's What's Happening! this new release covers modern families, body parts, how babies are conceived, grow and are born, all in an age appropriate way that aims to promote discussion with curious children of any age.
Thanks to those who have already pre-ordered either title - I'll be in touch as soon as the books are released.
Anyone wishing to pre-order, feel free to contact me directly, or order via the numerous book stores who will be stocking these titles.
There are two more titles at manuscript stage so I'm looking forward to further releases later next year.
Thanks as always for everyone's interest in my books and for your support.
On June 26, So That's What's Happening! was released by Amazon USA as well as several other international on-line sellers. First indications are that it has been well received and is selling steadily.
I have also been notified that a number of lending libraries in the USA have purchased copies.
We are pleased to see So That's What's Happening! selling well overseas, and have received interest in the next title in the series, to be released later this year.
During July, Next Door's Dog Has a Job has constantly hit the number one spot on the Booktopia Bestseller list in its category. We are thrilled with this result, as well as with the reviews and feedback we are receiving from families, kindergartens, schools and the disability sector. It seems that the children love learning about Bailey, and the jobs he does to look after Kate.
Additionally, the book is in the top two hundred in the general illustrated children's category, which consists of some 30,000 plus titles. Thank you to all who have purchased.
Another book in the series is due to be released (New Holland Publishers) late this year.
Today Next Door’s Dog Has A Job was released! It’s my second book with New Holland Publishers, and a big thank you to their team for such a wonderful result. Many thanks of course to illustrator Vivienne da Silva for her gorgeous and insightful illustrations. This is her first picture book and the result is stunning.
Interest from schools, kindergartens, disability groups and of course dog lovers has been high and thank you to all who have enquired and ordered the book. Dogs and their roles in modern society is a topic I feel strongly about, in case that isn’t obvious!
Please take a look at the BOOK section of this site if you would like more information.
On January 18th, 2018 my first book with New Holland Publishers was released! I couldn’t wait to see it, and was so thrilled with the quality and presentation by the publisher.
I feel extremely fortunate that internationally acclaimed Alex Mankiewicz was keen to illustrate So That’s What’s Happening! and I believe her illustrations are nothing short of brilliant for the intended age group and this sometimes tricky topic.
I’ve been pleased to see Booktopia featuring the book regularly on the msn website.
The interest by schools in using the book as an adjunct to the health curriculum has been high, and sales in Australia so far have ranged from schools in major cities to tiny remote schools with a handful of students. We even received an order for a dozen copies from the furthest location of Australian territory (with the exception of the AAT) – Christmas Island!
Thanks everyone for all the interest, much appreciated!
A “companion” book, also with New Holland Publishers and to be illustrated by Alex Mankiewicz, is scheduled for release later this year.
Please take a look at the BOOK section of this site if you would like more information about So That’s What’s Happening!