Upcoming Book Events

Plans are underway for additional book events in Tennessee and Oklahoma. The book event in Tennessee will be held in Nashville on June 14th. This event will be held in cooperation with the Tennessee State Fire Marshals office and the Nashville Fire Department. To see the event flyer, please click HERE.

On July 12, Sparkles and Author Dayna Hilton will be at Pooches Place in Tulsa for a book signing event. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Tulsa Dalmatian Assistance League.

To see a list of additional book events, including our book tour in the Northeast in June, please visit the Book Event site.

Announcing Sparkles' Fire Safety Newsletter

Would you like to know the latest about Sparkles and her big fire safety adventures? Or, how about fire safety tips shared by Sparkles? New fire safety videos and more on her new e-newsletter. Sign up today! To see a the first issue, click on the button below.



Click on the "Subscribe via RSS Feed" link at the bottom to be added to Sparkles' list. We promise not to share your email to outside parties.

Book Bites for Kids

Author Dayna Hilton was on Book Bites for Kids, a live radio show by the National Writing for Children Center. Hilton was interviewed about her book, Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog by host Suzanne Lieurance . Lieurance talks with authors about their books and writing for children on this daily broadcast. To listen to or download the broadcast, click HERE

Sparkles to be at the New England Association of Fire Chiefs Conference and Exposition

This just in!

Sparkles will be in attendance at the New England Fire Chief's 86th Annual Conference and Exposition in West Springfield, MA. She will be at the Expo at the Robotronics booth from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Firefighter Dayna Hilton will also be in attendance and signing copies of her book.

Stop by and say hello!

New Book Reviews

This just in! New book reviews on Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog.

“In a fun, simple and easily understandable format, Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog presents to children of all ages keen insights on fire safe behaviors certain to be remembered should the need arise. Such could mean all the difference in a safe and healthy life.”

Wayne Powell
Fire/Life Safety Specialist
Marriott International

“Instilling fire safety in young children is vitally important. Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog and Firefighters Dayna and Michael make learning these important safety messages fun, and easy to understand so that our children will be able to know what to do in the event of a fire. Congratulations on a wonderful book!”

Heather Schafer
Executive Director
National Volunteer Fire Council

"Both the book and the audio book are done well. This book is a great educational tool for the public education officers. Children and elderly are the most vulnerable age groups when it comes to fire. In this book, Sparkles has done great to educate our children. Now, Sparkles and her friend Spanner must find a way to do the same for the elderly. That should keep Dayna quite busy working on the next book!"

Azarang (Ozzie) Mirkhah, P.E., EFO, CBO
Fire Protection Engineer
Las Vegas Fire & Rescue

Sparkles Visits IFSTA Headquarters

Today was a very special day. Not only did we get to see lots of our favorite people, Sparkles was excited to meet Caden, age 5.

Sparkles also was very excited to see Nancy Trench and share a copy of her new book, Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog.

Today marked a very special day. It was the very first day that the draft of our new book, Sparkles Goes to Boston was read by someone other than the author. Thanks to Cindy for taking a look at it and offering her suggestions. We are really very excited with this new book and the direction that it is taking!

Sparkles looks over the draft of Sparkles Goes to Boston.

Arson Awareness Week

I'm holding two model fire trucks in my hand. Could you tell which one is a toy and which is a lighter? Could a child?

This week (May 4-10) is Arson Awareness Week. According to the United States Fire Adminstration, the theme for this year’s Arson Awareness Week is "Toylike Lighters: Playing with Fire."

Toylike or novelty lighters have been responsible for injuries, deaths, and accidents across the Nation. Children are attracted to novelty lighters because they look like toys, with visual effects, flashing lights, musical sounds, and toylike designs.

In 2002, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) estimated 13,900 child-playing structure fires were reported in the U.S., with associated losses of 210 civilian deaths, 1,250 civilian injuries, and $339 million in direct damage.

Some local and State governments are taking action by banning the sale of toylike and novelty lighters, and limiting their distribution. Get involved! Learn more about Arson Awareness Week and the intiative to ban lighters by visiting USFA's website at:

http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/subjects/arson/arson_awareness.shtm

Source: United States Fire Administration

Press Release May 5, 2008

Author Dayna Hilton, Sparkles, and Clarksville Primary School Principal Steve Ziegler

Dayna Hilton, author of the new children’s fire safety book, Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog, and her dog, Sparkles, recently presented their new book and audio book to Principal Steve Ziegler, for the Clarksville Primary School’s library. Hilton’s book is based on the latest fire safety research and showcases Sparkles the Dalmatian’s love for helping teach fire safety. More information may be found on Sparkles’ website at www.sparklesthefiresafetydog.com.

Author Dayna Hilton's Updated Bio

With so many exciting things happening lately, it was time to update the bio. Each time I have read the bio over the past couple of years and watched it evolve, I realize how very thankful I am that I have so many friends that help promote from safety and have taken the time to support Sparkles and my fire safety efforts over the years.

I just wanted to take this moment and stop to thank the following people and organizations:

• RFD #1 Firefighters
• PBS KIDS Sprout
• First Alert
• Robotronics
• IFSTA
• The Home Safety Council
• Janet Wilmoth
• Arkansas Fire Prevention Commission
• My good friends in the Northeast, especially Jim, Jack and Harry
• Congressman John Boozman
• Firehouse.com and Pete Matthews
• Robert, Michael, Randy, Margie and Glenn
• Dalmatian Assistance League of Tulsa
• Karla Wood and Harriett Sisson
• Jenni Glenn
• Chief John Mauro and the Southborough Firefighters
• Kari Wood
• National Fire Academy
• Emily McGlaughlin
• Steve Ziegler and the teachers at Clarksville Primary
• Cindy Finkle
• Nancy Trench
• Chris Neal

Thank you to each of you and to the many other folks who help keep our communities safe.

To see the new bio, click HERE.

Sparkles' Theme Song Now Available as a single and ringtone

Sparkles Theme Song is now available as a single on Amazon.com, eMusic and iTunes (US, Australia/New Zealand, Canada, UK/European Union, and Japan), . This original fire safety song by Firehouse Dog Publishing, LLC, was composed by Michael Post of Post Arrangements. Vocals by Post and Roger Haak.

The theme song is also available as a ringtone on Groupietunes.com

Soon, the theme song will be available on and on Rhapsody, Napster, and Lala.