The latest articles about Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog book and audio book

Two new articles on Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog book and Audio book have surfaced recently:

IFSTA's Speaking for Fire Winter 2008 newsletter
International Association of Fire Chief's On Scene newsletter

To view more articles on the books, visit HERE

New book review by Division Chief Mike Love, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue

"Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog is very well done and is a significant job aid for fire safety educators. The book really does a positive job of telling children in a very direct and simple way the essential behaviors when a smoke alarm activates. It also provides an opportunity for the fire safety educator, school teacher or even a fire chief to read to children. There are several opportunities to have interaction, show the real life objects that are presented and get feedback as you are reading. This is a tool that should be in every fire safety educator's tool box."

Division Chief Mike Love
Division of Community Risk Reduction Services
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service
Rockville, Maryland

Sparkles and Author Dayna Hilton to hit airwaves in Indianapolis

Thanks to the good folks at First Alert who are working hard to help promote the book, Sparkles and I will be on two shows on April 9th in Indianapolis to promote the new book and fire safety.

WXIN-TV (FOX) 8:12 a.m.

WTHR-TV (NBC)12:20 p.m.

Sparkles and I can't wait to share the morning and noon hour with the good folks from Indianapolis!

Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog Audio Books Arrive!

The audio book is here! The Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog audio book will be launched at the book signing event at FDIC Indianapolis at IFSTA booth 2450.

Boxes arrive at the Firehouse Dog Publishing offices

Paw Signing Poster

Thank you to IFSTA for making this beautiful poster!

Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog book goes to Washington, DC

Over the past few days I have been in Washington, DC promoting Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog. Today I took the completed book to the Library of Congress.

Photos by Jack Peltier

Today at the National Mall, the Congressional Fire Services Institute held a Fire and Emergency Showcase. IFSTA displayed Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog book at their booth with their Fire Protection Publication's (FPP) comprehensive Fire Safety for Young Children, an Early Childhood Education Curriculum. Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog is a recommended book in the curriculum.

Cindy Finkle from IFSTA, takes a look at the book for the first time. Cindy is Sparkles' biggest fan!

New video by Sparkles and Spanner

Sparkles, Spanner and I made a new video for our webpages. Double click on the video below to see the latest promotional video.

The first book arrives!

Today was a banner day! The mailman delivered the very first copy of Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog to Firehouse Dog Publishing. Sparkles was there to great the mailman.

It was really exciting to see the finished book for the very first time!

Firefighter Michael checks out the new book.

Kim Murray was the first person to stop by to check out the new book.

Cutouts Arrive in Arkansas

The new life size cutouts arrived today and Sparkles and Spanner couldn't wait to see what was inside the big package!



The Firefighter Dayna, Sparkles and Spanner Cutouts arrive!

Firehouse.com Article

Thanks to the good folks at Firehouse.com, there is an article on the new book and audio book, Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog. I would like to thank Firehouse.com for all that they do to help promote fire safety and to allow Sparkles, Spanner and I the opportunity to spread the fire safety message.

Click on the Firehouse.com banner below to read the article.

Firehouse Dog Publishing, LLC, releases Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog Audio Book sample.

A sample of the Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog audio book is now available. To listen to the sample, visit Firehouse Dog Publishing, LLC's website

Book goes through four days of being printed!

Hard to Say Goodbye to the Bay State

As always, it was really hard saying goodbye and leaving my good friends. It was an extremely productive trip and I'd like to thank Jim and Karen, along with their children, Sara, Steven and Shawn for their incredible hospitality and for helping me promote fire safety.

Karen, thank you for all of the laughs. I don't know when I have ever laughed so hard!

A really big thank you goes to Sue Peltier for her incredible pictures, and to Jack. Thank you for all of your help with the project!

PJ, Penguin, Father Craig, and Tom, it was great seeing you. I will miss you all!

Closed out the trip with what has become the traditional picture; that of Jim, myself and Jack.

Sparkles Goes to Boston Mock-up Pictures Made

Today with the assistance of Jim Peltier, we were able to capture mock-up photos for the next book, Sparkles Goes to Boston. The photos for this book will be taken June 2008.

Photos a Plenty!

Today was a big day. Jim and his mother, Sue, along with Lisa, helped take pictures for the life size cutout and other promotional photos.

Visiting with Old Friends

My friends in Massachusetts are near and dear to my heart. We spent a nice relaxing evening visiting Friday evening.

Photo by Lisa Tommaney

Standing from L to R: Jim and his wife, Karen, me, and Penguin
Kneeling from L to R: Tom and Father Craig

Reviewing Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog Audio Book

Today Steven and Sara Peltier helped me proof the Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog audio book. It received rave reviews from two of my most important critics!

Photo Courtesy of Tom Hogan

Working on Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog and Sparkles Goes to Boston Book in the Bay State

Am visiting the great state of Massachusetts where I am preparing for the upcoming release of Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog and Sparkles Goes to Boston books.

The hosts for my trip are Jim and Karen Peltier, along with their family, Sara, Steven and Shawn. We have lots of fun things in store, including preparing pictures for the website and for the books.

Here's a picture Steven and my new helmet.

Sara always suprises me with her great drawings!

Went to Steven's class and read the book. It was alot of fun and received great reviews from the children in attendance.

Proof of Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog Arrives

Today while visiting the Peltier's in Massachusetts, the proof of Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog arrived.

Three Generations of Firefighters Participate in Children's Fire Safety Audio Book

Firefighter Glenn Trembley of Chicago, Illinois and Author Firefighter Dayna Hilton read for the new Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog audio book. Firefighter Michael Post, of Post Arrangements, recorded the narration. Sparkles and Spanner provided vocals on the track providing great barking sound effects. The audio book will be released April 11th.

Reading Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog for the audio book

Sparkles and Spanner provided additional vocals.

Michael Post of Post Arrangements

To see more pictures, click here.

Work begins on children's fire safety audio book

Today work began on the new children's fire safety audio book, Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog. Michael Post of Post Arrangements visited the fire station today to compile the special sound effects needed for the book.

Announcing the newest addition to Firehouse Dog Publishing!

Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog will be released as an audio book on April 11, 2008! The audio book will be read by Firefighter Glenn Trembley and Author Firefighter Dayna Hilton. Music by Michael Post and engineered by Post Arrangements. Three generations of firefighters will be participating in this project!

Welcome!

Welcome!


The book's release date (April 11, 2008) will be here before you know it!


There has been a lot of preparation getting ready for the big day. This blog has been created to share the latest news and information about Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog.


Over the weekend, I spent some time at Mt. Magazine's Lodge to take some time away from the hustle and bustle and to concentrate on an article that I am writing for Firehouse.com.


Talk about inspiring! Here is a photo of the view outside of my room.





It was the perfect setting for creative writing!