Picture from Liam, age 3

We received this really great picture from Liam, age 3. Liam is from Canada, and according to his mom, a big fan of Fireman Sam, Sparkles, Spanner and Firefighter Dayna.





Liam drew a picture of a ladder truck, Sparkles, Spanner and Firefighter Dayna. Thanks, Liam! We love your picture!

First Alert Releases New Podcast on Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog

Today First Alert released their first podcast. Developed and sponsored by First Alert, these podcasts discuss issues that help make your home safe; protecting the things that matter most by helping to equip you with knowledge that could someday save your life.

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First Alert Safety Expert Gigi Lubin interviewed Author Dayna Hilton about her new children's book and what parents and children need to know about fire safety preparedness.

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Thank you to First Alert for all that they have done to promote the book and fire safety!

Sparkles on the MetroWest Daily News, the Milford Daily News (MA) and the Southborough News Webpage

Before we know it, it will be time to make our big trip to Southborough, Massachusetts for our book event with the Southborough Fire Department and to take photos for our next book, Sparkles Goes to Boston.

Click on the links above to read the latest news about our upcoming visit to Southborough.

Sparkles on Fire Chief Magazine's Blog

Today an article was posted by Janet Wilmoth, Editor of Fire Chief Magazine, on Fire Chief's magazines' blog in the "Story Hour" section.

The article may be seen at HERE.

Thanks again, Janet, for helping Sparkles and me promote fire safety!

Sparkles in the Lisle Sun newspaper

Thank you to Janet Wilmoth for the wonderful article that appeared in today's issue of the Lisle Sun (Illinois).



To view on the article, click on the Lisle Sun image above.

Blog Radio coming soon!

As many of you know, promoting fire safety is a passion. Fire Safety Radio will visit with experts from across the country and share their endeavors to help keep everyone fire safe. Check back for more updates!

New review!

We found this review online about the book and audio book, Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog, and we were SO excited!

"My 3 year old daughter loves this book and CD. In a matter of 2 readings, she knows the theme song, what a smoke alarm does, and how to stay low and go like Sparkles! We saw Sparkles and Spanner at FDIC in Indy. What great dogs." Lesa, a mom and former firefighter-10 yrs, 04/14/2008

Thanks so much, Lisa! You really made our day!

Would you like to write a review? Please send to us at info@firehousedogpublishing.com. We would love to hear it!

Southborough Fire Department Announces Book Event in Southborough

Southborough Fire Department announces Sparkles' book signing event at Summer Nights in Southborough, MA on their website. To visit Southborough Fire Department's website, click HERE. To view and event flyer, please click HERE.

Sparkles visits Mrs. Kelli Grigsby's Kindergarten Class at Clarksville Primary

Today was a very special day. Sparkles and I went to read our new book for Mrs. Kelli Grigsby's kindergarten class.

In April 2007, we read the draft of our book to Mrs. Grigsby's class and it received rave reviews at that time. The event was documented by a video that Fire Protection Publication's is going to use in their early childhood curriculum project.

We were very excited to proceed with the book and read it for her class one year later. We were also excited that Mrs. Armstrong's class was with us as well to share in this very special event!

Goodbye, Chicago

They say that all good things must come to an end.

Sparkles, Spanner and I have had the most incredible time in Chicago, thanks to some pretty incredible people.

Thank you to the following people and organizations for helping us promote the book and fire safety in the windy city:

First Alert

ABC Channel 7

The Chicago Tribune

Chicago Fire Department

The City of Chicago

Lisle-Woodridge Fire Department

The staff at Villa St. Benedict

Glenn and Margie Trembley

Janet Wilmoth

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We will miss you, Chicago, and we can hardly wait to come back!

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Dayna, Sparkles and Spanner

Chicago Tribune's Book Section

Today our book signing at Villa St. Benedict in Lisle was in the Chicago Tribune's Book Section.

Book Event Villa St. Benedict

Almost 100 children and their caregivers attended the book event at Villa St. Benedict. Thank you to CEO Glenn Trembley, Sandra, Donna, Judi, the kitchen staff and all of the staff at Villa St. Benedict for all of their hard work in preparing for the event.

Lisle-Woodridge Fire District firefighters were also in attendance to share fire safety with the children in attendance. Thank you to Lt. Jay Caron and all of the firefighters from Lisle-Woodridge Fire District for coming to the event! You guys are awesome! Thank you for taking time out of your day to help us promote fire safety.

To see more pictures from the event, click HERE.

Sparkles on the Chicago Fire Department webpage

Sparkles is on the Chicago Fire Department webpage. Thanks to the Chicago Fire Department and First Alert for all that they have done to promote the book and fire safety! To see the article and photos, click HERE.

Sparkles makes the front page of the Chicago Tribune webpage! She also makes the "Metro" section of the Chicago Tribune.

Sparkles made the front page of the Chicago Tribune webpage. To view the photos that were included with the photo on the front page click HERE.

Thank you to First Alert and the Chicago Fire Department for the media event that they held today promoting our new book and fire safety. More photos will be forth coming.

Sparkles visits First Alert Headquarters

Today after our visit to the Chicago Fire Department's Survive Alive house, Sparkles got the grand tour of First Alert Headquarters in Aurora.

Sparkles had so much fun meeting everyone!

Sparkles said that the next time that she hopes that she gets to meet Clover!

Thanks to everyone at First Alert for everything that they have done to help us promote the book and fire safety.

Sparkles on Chicago TV

Sparkles Promotional Tour takes her to Chicago Fire Department's Survive Alive House

Today Sparkles educated Chicago area children about fire safety and performed fire safety demonstrations to about 20 2nd-graders from Old Town's Catherine Cook School at the Chicago Fire Department's Survive Alive House, 1010 S. Clinton Ave.



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Thank you to the Chicago Fire Department, Chief Roccosalva, and First Alert for their support in promoting the book. Chicago's FOX station, ABC Channel 7 and the Chicago Tribune were in attendance. Thanks to ABC Channel 7 and the Chicago Tribune for their terrific coverage in helping us promote fire safety.

To see photos from the event, click HERE. Thank you to the Chicago Fire Department and First Alert for the fantastic photos. Hint: It's easiest to view the photos in the "Slideshow" mode.



New friends from the Chicago Fire Department
Our friends from First Alert along with Chief Roccosalva

Chicago Fire Department Press Release

CHICAGO FIRE DEPARTMENT WELCOMES CANINE CELEBRITY

Sparkles Shows Local School Children How To Get Low and Go

Wednesday, April 16, 2008 10:00 a.m.

WHO: Sparkles, a fire safety savvy Dalmatian resplendent in her red service vest along with her two-legged friend and volunteer firefighter Dayna Hilton.
Chief Joseph Roccasalva, Chicago Fire Deparmtent Chief of Public Ed.
Dayna Hilton, firefighter and author
Debbie Hanson, Director of External Affairs, First Alert
Second Graders from Catherine Cook School

WHAT: Chicago is one of the kick-off cities for Sparkles and Dayna’s national book tour introducing Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog. They will sign books, pose for photos and teach children about fire safety. To help Dayna and Sparkles, First Alert, based in Aurora, IL, is donating 1,000 books to the Chicago Fire Department for distribution to area schools.

WHEN: 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, April 16, 2008

WHERE: Chicago Fire Department Survive Alive House, 1010 S. Clinton, Chicago
In studio or desk-side interviews available per booking.

WHY: As children follow the adventures of Sparkles, they learn valuable fire safety tips enabling them and their families to keep safe. These tips include recognizing the firefighter as a helper and friend, knowing the sound and purpose of a smoke alarm, learning how to crawl low under smoke, and understanding the importance of practicing a home fire drill using an escape map.

VISUALS: Sparkles and Dayna will show:

· How Sparkles teaches children to get low and go in case of a fire
· How to crawl out and meet at a pre-determined area (in this case, a mailbox prop they will bring in) outside the home.
· The importance of smoke alarms, fresh batteries, etc.
· Their new book “Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog.”

OTHER: Sparkles and another Dalmatian associate, Spanner, are both rescued dogs who travel with Dayna to fire service conferences and other appearances around the country. They live in Arkansas with Dayna and her husband, visiting primary schools to help teach children fire safety. The dogs love children, love helping their fire department and love going to work.

Book signing FDIC Robotronics Booth

The next day at FDIC, we signed books at the Robotronics Booth. A special thank you to all of our Baystate friends who helped that day!

Kari, Margie, Mitch and Chrissy helped man the booth all day. Thanks so much!

It's the paparazzi!

Spanner made friends with a firefighter from Japan.

To view more pictures, click HERE.

Book Launch at the IFSTA Booth

Thanks so much to IFSTA for hosting our book signing event at FDIC in Indianapolis. It was a huge success!A special thanks to Jim, Tom, Jack, Kari, Jan and Margie for your help with setting up for the special event that day! Signing the first book
We signed books all day for many new friends!

To see more photos, click HERE.

Sparkles on WXIN Fox 59 Indianapolis

Sparkles on WTHR in Indianapolis

Promoting Fire Safety on Indianapolis TV

Today was a big day! Sparkles and I started by promoting the book and fire safety at FOX 59 in Indianapolis. Read the story about our visit HERE

We then went over to the NBC studios for their noon show.

Thanks to First Alert for helping with the promotion of this leg of the book tour! We greatly appreciate you helping promote Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog and fire safety!

Indy Bound!

It took us two days driving 55 mph (due to the weight of the books), but we finally made it! Sparkles, Spanner and I are really excited to be in Indiana!

Getting ready to leave Arkansas
Finally made it!