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Dog Like No OtherWhen John Grogan wrote about his misbehaving dog Marley in his newspaper column, readers loved it. He decided to turn his many Marley stories into a book. The result? His bestseller Marley & Me, the true story of "life and love with the world's worst dog." Luckily for you, he's also written two new Marley books—just for kids!
KIND News: Why did you adapt Marley & Me for younger readers?
John Grogan: When I wrote Marley & Me, I had an adult audience in mind. But when I traveled around the country doing readings and book signings, I noticed lots of kids in the audience. The little kids would sit around my feet as I told Marley stories, giggling at his funny antics. The older kids had copies of my book that they were trying to read, but which I thought was too grown-up for them. That is what inspired me to come out with two new versions of Marley’s story, so every age group could have one that was right for them. Bad Dog, Marley! is a picture book for 3- to 7-year-olds. Marley: A Dog Like No Other is a special adaptation of Marley & Me for children ages 8 to 12.
KN: What do you hope kids get out of reading the books?
JG: I hope kids realize that they are loved. Just as Marley’s family loved him unconditionally even though he got into lots of trouble and was far from perfect, their families love them unconditionally too. Your family loves you just the way you are.
KN:
What
do you think we can learn from dogs?
JG: Dogs teach us about loyalty and devotion and selflessness. They show us how to put others first. They teach us what it means to be a really great best friend. And they show us how to live each day to the fullest, with joy and zest, like it is the most important day of your life.
KN: Describe what it means to be a responsible pet caregiver.
JG: Well, pets aren’t toys that you can toss in the closet and forget about when you get tired of them. They are living beings with feelings and needs. Just like kids, they need good food and clean water, a warm place to sleep, plenty of exercise, and proper medical care so they stay healthy. But beyond that, they need human companionship and attention. Dogs, especially, are very social animals. Without enough affection and love, they will become stressed out and may end up in trouble. Many pet behavior problems stem from the fact that the animal is not getting enough attention.
KN: What would you tell people who have pets like Marley?
JG: Have patience and a sense of humor, and don't give up. A lot of dogs just need someone to invest enough time and energy working with them and they'll turn out to be great pets.
KIND Star John Grogan
● thinks Marley would have described him like this: “John’s a great guy, but he’s a total pushover. I figured out right from the start that I could run all over him and he’d let me get away with it. With my high energy levels, I needed a real leader to help me settle down and behave. John was more like a brother who I had fun playing with but never felt the need to obey.”
●
gave us
the scoop on his next picture book. “A Very Marley Christmas
picks up where Bad Dog, Marley! leaves off,” John tells us. “It’s
Marley’s first Christmas with his new family, and he wants to help
decorate the house. You can imagine all the wild mischief he gets into.
That’s all I’ll say for now—except to warn you that Marley never saw a
tree he didn’t want to pee on!” Watch John’s Web site,
marleyandme.com, for details on
this and a third Marley picture book.
●
has this advice
for young writers: “Write about what you know best and what is
important to you. Trust your instincts, listen to your heart, and
believe in the power of your voice. Keep a journal, and write in it
every day. Writing is like anything else: The more you do it, the better
you get at it.”
