What happens when a happy little Schipperke puppy is set loose to explore state parks? He enjoys each new creature and plant that he comes across as only a curious puppy can! Pip the Adventure Dog Goes to Caprock Canyons State Park is the first in a planned series of illustrated children's books featuring the adventure-loving little dog who is eager to encounter everything that the great outdoors has to offer. Playful and educational, these nature-focused picture books set in state parks will captivate children ages five to ten, while helping them identify the animals and plants that abound in the natural world. When Pip, a Schipperke puppy, travels with his two Persons, Micki Lu and Brad, to Caprock Canyons State Park in Texas, he is eager to learn more about the prairie dogs that live there. When they board the RV, or "house on wheels" as Pip calls it, he knows that he is in for an adventure. He is especially excited about the prairie dogs that they are going to see. First, however, Pip meets a raccoon, which delights him to no end. Pip knows that he is a Schipperke dog and that his best friend, Luna, is a Boston terrier. He also knows a Schnauzer named Dixie and a Corgi named Gizmo. However, he does not know anything about prairie dogs, and has much fun imagining what one would look like. As he begins to interact with park residents, his childlike sense of wonder and excitement illustrates to young readers how diverse and entertaining nature can be. When Pip at last comes across the prairie dogs, he is fascinated by their unique characteristics, and all the more curious that they are not like any dogs he has ever met. Then, when he discovers a horned toad, he is equally delighted in their striking difference from the fat, squishy toads that hop around in his backyard. When his Special Person Micki Lu almost mistakes a horned toad for a pile of rocks, Pip learns just how unusual this toad is. As Pip broadens his understanding of the rich array of nature that he is able to encounter in a state park, children everywhere will learn the magic, mystery, and joy of creatures great and small. It's a must for outdoors enthusiasts who want to share their love of the natural world with the young, inquisitive people in their lives.
About the Author: Micki Lu is a nature enthusiast, wildlife photographer, and author of Pip the Adventure Dog Goes to Caprock Canyons State Park, the first in a series that was inspired after experiencing firsthand the reintroduction of prairie dogs into the park. The author and her husband, Brad (currently pursuing his master naturalist certificate), spend as many as six weeks a year traveling by RV throughout the United States. Illustrator Chris Sesler - first and foremost a mom - has poured over her children's illustrated books for years. She received a BFA degree from Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts, then was the art director at a real estate firm doing layout and design, and illustration whenever possible. She is currently a Teacher's Aide working with elementary school children and resides in Virginia with her husband and two sons.