Thank you to the Kids Firefighter Blog

Thank you to the Kids Firefighter Blog for including information about our Firefighter Dayna fire safety site! The kids Firefighter Blog is a great source to find Kids Firefighter activities, gear, toys, videos, games and events on the Internet.

To visit the blog, click HERE.

Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog in Courier Democrat

Thanks to Courier Democrat reporter Justin Hook for the amazing story that he wrote about Sparkles and her quest for helping teach fire safety.

Since May 2003, Sparkles has reached millions of children and their caregivers with the fire safety message on Sprout, Sprout on Demand after Fireman Sam and the Sprout website. Rescued from a home with 62 other dogs, Sparkles had an unfortunate life. Now, Sparkles is a very happy dog, helping Firefighter Dayna teach fire safety all across the United States.

The article appeared in the July 5th, 2009 issue. Please check back soon for a link to the article.

Firefighter Dayna and Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog Donate Books to the Great Sprout Tuck-In

Publisher and Author Dayna Hilton and Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog recently donated 25 copies of the children's fire safety book, Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog, to The Great Sprout Tuck-in. The copies were signed by Firefighter Dayna and "pawed" by Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog.

The Great Sprout Tuck-In is a prosocial initiative that extends Sprout’s “good night” mission and encourages families to share in the spirit of giving.

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Sprout is the first 24-hour preschool network created for children ages 2-5 and their parents and caregivers and is available on TV, on demand and online.

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In partnership with the Pajama Program, a national nonprofit organization, it is their goal to help ensure that every child has a good night by donating new bedtime books and cozy pajamas to the Pajama Program.

Sprout will match donations of new pajamas and new books for up to 100,000 children in need during the first year of The Great Sprout Tuck-In, which will run through September 30 of this year.

The new pajamas and new books collected by the Pajama Program and The Great Sprout Tuck-In will go directly to children in need all over the country, including those in foster care who are waiting and hoping to be adopted.

The Pajama Program is a perfect fit with Sprout’s mission. Since it was launched in 2005, Sprout has been committed to following every step of a preschooler’s day — from early morning until bedtime. Sprout's signature programming block, The Good Night Show, helps children wind down with bedtime stories and other evening routines, providing our viewers with good nights. Now with The Great Sprout Tuck-in, Sprout can provide children in need with good nights, too.

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To learn how you can help make a difference or for more information on The Great Sprout Tuck-In, visit their website HERE. To learn more about the children's book, Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog, visit HERE.

Thank you to FireRescue1.com

Thanks to FireRescue1.com for adding our fire safety blogs to their blog and for sending out the notice to their over 60,000 members!

Sparkles had the opportunity to meet some of the staff from FireRescue1.com at FDIC in Indianapolis in April.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxSparkles with FireRescue1’s Gina Ciccarelli

xxxxxxxxxxxxxSparkles with FireRescue1’s Jennifer Hickerson

To visit their blog, click HERE. To see the newsletter that went out to their members, click HERE.

Thank you so much for helping us spread the fire safety message!

New Video Release of Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog Meeting Governor Mike Beebe

On June 20th, Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog was honored to meet Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe.



Thank you, Governor Beebe, for all that you do to help keep Arkansans fire safe!

Today Sparkles was excited to meet Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe. Governor Beebe is a big supporter of the fire service and helping keep Arkansans fire safe. We were thankful that he had time to take out of his busy schedule to meet Sparkles.

To see more pictures, please click HERE.

Fire Safety Efforts Mentioned on Floor of Congress

Recently Congressman John Boozman mentioned our fire safety efforts on the floor of Congress. We are thankful to Congressman Boozman for his support over the years in helping us keep people fire safe.



To see the C-Span article click HERE.
To learn more about the 2009 NFPA Fire Safety Educator Award, please click HERE.

Sparkles in this Months Issue of DogSport Magazine

Our book, Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog, in this months issue of DogSport Magazine! The review is in the DogSport Magazine's Bookshelf section on page 90.

Here's what the DogSport staff had to say about Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog:

"Sparkles is a Fire Safety Dog from Clarksville, Arkansas that travels with firefighter Dayna Hilton teaching fire safety messages to children all across the United States. Together the two have reached millions of children and their caregivers. The National Fire Protection Association, in 2007, stated that there were more than 1.5 million fires reported in the United States, with 3,430 civilian deaths and 17,675 civilian injuries and Sparkles and Firefighter Dayna hope to change these statistics, one presentation at a time. Sparkle's tail wags in excitement about learning and teaching fire safety together and riding in the big red fire truck! Dayna begins this book by highlighting important words or phrases that should be explained to children much like she begins her presentation when visiting local elementary schools. This book teaches the most important fire safety information that children should be learning at a young age to be prepared in case of a fire emergency. The photos help to illustrate what is being taught and Sparkles participates as well, crawling and getting low. Children are also taught how firefighters will keep them safety and whey the wear "special clothes" in a fire. This is a wonderful learning tool for children! Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog literally is a brilliant quick and easy read for children. Not only will they learn the importance of fire safety, but also by using the beautiful Dalmatian dog in colorful pictures throughout the book, it almost guarantees this becoming a child's favorite book to read and re-read all the while re-learning the importance of fire safety. Reading gives children skills in hangling complex thoughts, ideas and teachings. DogSport Magazine recommends.... every classroom investing in bringing this book into elementary schools to help in teaching fire safety. "

Hi paw to everyone at DogSport Magazine for helping us spread the fire safety message!

Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog Book Featured in Home Safety Council's "Start Safe" Program Materials

Thanks to Meri-K Appy and everyone at the Home Safety Council for including Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog in their new pre-school curriculum, "Start Safe."

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Fires and burns are a big problem in America for preschool-aged children. Each year, thousands are injured or killed from accidents in the home that could be prevented. The Home Safety Council has teamed up with Weekly Reader Custom Publishing on Start Safe: A Fire and Burn Safety Program for Preschoolers and their Families.

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Funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Office of Domestic Preparedness, Start Safe provides resources for preschool teachers and administrators to work hand-in-hand with a local fire department. Working together, using developmentally-appropriate teaching tools from Start Safe, teachers and local fire safety experts can deliver life-saving lessons to the preschoolers. Perhaps even more importantly, they can also reach parents and caregivers with key safety messages and help them take action to reduce the risk of fires and burns at home.

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Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog is featured in their Teacher Resource section. To find more information and access to free materials, visit HERE.

New Video of Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog at Work

Sparkles and I recently returned from the Fire Department Instructor's Conference in Indianapolis. Below is a video of Sparkles at work.

Sparkles Attends the Fire Department Instructor's Conference in Indiana

Sparkles and I traveled to Indiana to attend the Fire Department Instructor's Conference in Indianapolis. We had the most amazing time, seeing old friends and meeting new ones!

Sparkles poses outside the Indiana Conference Center

On Wednesday, Sparkles finally had the opportunity to meet Jake the Fire Dog. Jake teaches fire safety in Michigan.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxSparkles and Jake pose for pictures.

On Thursday, Sparkles and I were at the National Volunteer Fire Council booth.

Saturday we were at the IFSTA booth.

New Newscast Videos Released

We just received these news videos are from Sparkles' visit to Celia Clinton Elementary School on February 24, 2009. To read more about Sparkles' and her help in saving the lives of two children and their families, click HERE.

Sparkles is headed to Indianapolis!

Sparkles is Headed to Indy!

Come visit Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog at the Fire Department Instructors Conference in Indianapolis at the Indiana Convention Center. Please see the schedule below. Hope to see you there!






Thursday, April 23rd
National Volunteer Fire Council
2-5 P.M.
Booth 91

Saturday, April 25th
International Fire Services Training Association
9-12 A.M.
Booth 2450

Authors and Coffee Event Coming Soon

Sparkles and I will be reading an excerpt from our book, Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog from 6:54-6:59 at Hastings Books in Russellville (AR). Hope to see you there!

New Picture from Justin

Thanks, Justin, for sending Sparkles a picture of you
with your coloring page! We love it! You did a great job!

Would you like to send us your coloring page of Sparkles? You can get your very own coloring page HERE! Send it to sparkles@sparklesthefiresafetydog.com and we'll post it on our blogs!

New Poster for "Paw Signing"

Sparkles and I can't wait for the Fire Department Instructors Conference in Indianapolis! We will be at the IFSTA and NVFC booths.

Once again, IFSTA has come up with an amazing "Paw Signing" poster!

New Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog Coloring Page

Get out the crayons! The new Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog coloring page is here! Click on the picture below to print off your copy and start coloring away!


Thank you to PBS KIDS Sprout for the use of their drawing!
You can find more coloring pages, visit HERE.

New Coloring Page for Children

Click on the picture of Firefighter Dayna to get your coloring page!


You can find more fun coloring pages, by going HERE.

Having Fun on the K9 Magazine Website

You can create your own cover on the K9 Magazine website with your pet. Here's what our "cover" looks like:

Vote for our cover HERE.

Create your own custom K9 Magazine cover using your photos! click here

Arkansas Literary Festival Brochure Released!

Sparkles and I can't wait to participate in the 2009 Arkansas Literary Festival in Little Rock, April 18th.

Click on the picture on the Arkansas Literary Festival poster to learn more! Sparkles and I hope to see you there!

Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog Book to be Listed as Resource in Upcoming Fire and Burn Safety Program for Preschoolers and Their Families

We are excited that our book, Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog, is going to be listed as a resource in the The Home Safety Council's new program, Start Safe: A Fire and Burn Safety Program for Preschoolers and Their Families. The Home Safety Council has numerous partners with this project, including the National Head Start Association, Oklahoma State University's Fire Protection Publications, the Weekly Reader, and Tyco. Funded by a Fire Prevention and Safety grant from U.S. Department of Homeland Security/FEMA Office of Grants and Training, the program provides free materials to teach basic fire and burn safety lessons to children ages 4 – 6, along with parenting education on key safety messages. In August 2009, Start Safe packages will be made available to 5,000 members of the HSC Expert Network, including a training DVD for fire departments to learn effective methods for reaching very young children and their families as well as methods to evaluate program effectiveness.

Thank you Celia Clinton Pre-K Students!

Thank you to the pre-k students at Celia Clinton Elementary for Sparkles' new spotted friend!

Sparkles in the April Issue of FIDO Friendly Magazine

Sparkles is so excited to be featured in the April issue of FIDO Friendly magazine!

Sparkles in the News

Sparkles was recently in the Greenwood Courier (AR) and the Greater Tulsa Reporter (OK).

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxGreenwood Democrat, March 18, 2009

xxxxxxGreater Tulsa Reporter, Mid-March to Mid-April 2009 Issue

Note from Adam

Received these two nice notes from Adam and his mom, Heather. Adam was the winner of Michelle Brownlow's My Semblance of Sanity blog contest a couple of weeks ago and received lots of goodies from Sparkles. Adam is also a Sproutlet and enjoys watching Sparkles and Spanner's fire safety tips on PBS KIDS Sprout.

Dear FireFighter Dayna~

Thank you very much for 'my mail'. As you can see, I got so surprised to see a package for ME from Sparkles. 'Mama, she even signed it for ME & Brother!!!' I love it when dogs 'talk' to me!

Love,
Adam

Dear Dayna~

We listen/read along with Sparkles about every other day. The package was such a fun present for them and we had to put up the fire alarm RIGHT away so that the firemen 'know where to find my boys'. (Because the one we had already, is NOT the same Mama.) I'm enclosing some pics...1) Adam learning the package is from Sparkles, 2) Dad & Adam reading THE MAIL, 3) Working on his 'firemap'the next morning, still in jammies 'cuz it's 'portant'. Dayna, your strategies work. REALLY work. Because they are simplewords the kids already know. Taught by a dog that is 'real' and not pretend. She has a human that loves her and '
she shows me how I'm soso brave.' You are making a difference and it does matter. Because that means that if something ever happens, my boys will know the words/actions they need to use. Even if I have to remind them, I won't have to teach it to them in the moment.

Heather













Thank you Adam and Heather for sending the nice notes and great pictures!

Firefighter Dayna, Sparkles and Spanner

Sparkles Mentioned in IFSTA's Speaking of Fire Newsletter

Sparkles is mentioned in the Spring 2009 issue of the International Fire Service Training Association's Speaking of Fire Newsletter (page 12).

Click on the picture of the newsletter cover to read the article.

Updated Event List

April 16th

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Authors and Coffee

6:30 P.M.

Hastings Hardback Cafe

Russellville, Arkansas

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April 17th

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North Little Rock Schools

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April 18th

Arkansas Literary Festival
1:00 P.M.
Historic Arkansas Museum
Little Rock, Arkansas

April 23rd

National Volunteer Fire Council Booth
2:00-5:00 P.M.
Fire Department Instructor's Conference
Indianapolis, Indiana

April 25th

IFSTA Booth
9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
Fire Department Instructor's Conference
Indianapolis, Indiana

June 6-9

NFPA Conference
Chicago, Illinois

August 24-28

Fire Rescue International
Dallas, Texas

September or October

Showcase on the Mall

Event Sponsored by the Congressional Fire Services Institute

Home Safety Council Education Pavilion

Washington, DC

Sparkles on "Jakezilla" Blog

Sparkles and I were so excited to see a post on the "Mommy Blog", "Jakezilla!" Thank you so much Lora and Jake for sharing the fire safety message!

Jake is a "Sproutlet" and we just love to hear from Sproutlets who watch Sparkles and Spanner's fire safety tips on PBS KIDS Sprout on Demand.

Be sure to visit their site HERE and look for a contest coming really soon on their blog!

Package Arrives from First Alert

First Alert, one of our partners in helping keep children and their caregivers fire safe, sent us a huge package! Sparkles, Spanner, Chief and our new fire safety dog (whom we will be having a contest soon to name!) were really excited to check out the new smoke alarms and Tundras.

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The smoke alarm is a 10-year tamperproof smoke and fire alarm and the battery never needs replacing! And, BONUS, the smoke alarm mutes unwanted alarms! And the tundra, what can I say, I love the Tundra! To learn more about the Tundra, visit my firesafetyeducator.com blog to learn more!

Now why would we need a whole box of smoke alarms and Tundras? I'm glad you asked! Sparkles and I have made it our mission to keep everyone fire safe and to do this, we are trying to reach the masses. Since 2006, First Alert has been helping us reach as many people as possible with our fire safety efforts, so.... this was the perfect project! SO, if you are a blogger(mommy blogger, dog blogger, author blogger or another type of blogger!) and have a large audience, we want to hear from you! Let's put together some fun contests to promote fire safety (for an example of a contest, visit my friend Michelle's My Semblance of Sanity blog)!

xxxxxxxxxxxSparkles checking out the box from First Alert

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxNext it's Chief's turn to see what's inside

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxThanks First Alert!

Thank you to everyone at First Alert for helping keep children and their caregivers fire safe! You are our Sparkles Fire Safety Champions of the Day!

Sparkles Receives Package from Amber-Mae, Faith, Chloe and Melissa from Malaysia!

Amber-Mae, Chloe, Faith and Melissa, we love you! Thank you so much for the awesome drawing of Sparkles and for your Limited Edition DVD, "Stop" (The proceeds from "Stop" help PAWS dogs and cats for adoption). Visit their page HERE. And if you want to see something really cute, check out Amber's visit to the vet. I have never seen such cute pictures!

Sparkles and I love the drawing and have it hanging right where we can see it when we sit at the computer. : )

If you would like to send us your drawing of Sparkles, we will feature here on our blog!

Sparkles Visits Mountain View, Arkansas

Today Sparkles and I went to beautiful Mountain View, Arkansas. We made a fire safety presentation and signed books for the ladies in attendance.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxAnswering questions

xxxxxxxxxxSparkles had a great time! The weather was perfect!

Book review from Pamela Maynard

Received this review from freelance writer, Pamela Maynard.

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"Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog turns a scary subject into a fun learning experience. Sparkles and Firefighter Dayna show children and adults how to be safe during a fire or suspected fire. The real life photos of Sparkles demonstrating fire safety to children are fun to look at as well as instructional.

My six year-old son loved Sparkles so much that we had to read it to his kindergarten class. His classmates were captivated by Sparkles. They wanted me to read about Sparkles again and again. We even went back and discussed every picture. Their favorite picture was Sparkles in his own bed! The fun pictures kept all eyes and attention on the book. The kindergarteners wanted to know if Sparkles was a real dog and if he could come visit them.

Thanks Firefighter Dayna for sharing your special dog with children all over the world. Fire safety has never been so fun!"

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Pamela writes childrens stories from a 7.5 acre happy homestead that she shares with her son, husband, 3 dogs, 3 cats and 8 guinea hens in New Hampshire. Pamela's Poultry Pest Patrol article debuts in May 09 GRIT magazine. The Super Grow Machine, Pamela's first published story, appeared in KIDZ RULE, USA magazine 2008. THE KIDS ARK magazine accepted Pamela's story Leo's Lie for their May 2010 issue.

Pam, thanks for the great review! Firefighter Dayna and Sparkles