On a farm in Pennsylvania, Valentine is one of seven brown Labrador puppies in her family. There, she enjoys playing with her brothers and sisters on the fluffy green grass, looking at all the different farm animals-and even jumping in the pond for a swim! But she knows she won't stay there forever. Her trainer Judy says someday she'll go to live in a new place with a new family who loves her very much.
And when she wakes up one day in a busy airport, Valentine knows the time to meet her new family is finally here. After giving her a collar with a pretty red heart, a kind man and woman introduce the puppy to the big city and it's like nothing she's ever known before! All different types of people, all sorts of dogs, and big buildings as far as the eye can see.
In the first of many adventures, Valentine can't wait to discover the exciting world of New York City with her new family. Join the lovable Labrador as she sniffs out all the fun that awaits her and becomes a true New York dog!
About the Author: Debbie Gallin is a professional educator who began her career as an early childhood classroom teacher and went on to earn her master's degree in reading and learning disabilities. After working as a school-based reading specialist for elementary-aged children, she earned her PhD in school administration. She has served as a supervisor, a private school director, and an assistant superintendent. She currently resides in New York City with her husband and their Labrador retriever.
Co-author Susie Simpson has always loved writing and telling stories. A wife and mother of two grown sons, she has experienced a myriad of interesting life events that fuel her humor and her stories. The co-authors became best friends in fifth grade, and although they now live 442 miles apart, this project brought them together to write the true-life adventures of Valentine, a Chocolate Lab who lives in New York City.
Illustrator Janealla Killebrew is an award-winning watercolor artist who received her BFA and MA from Bowling Green University. She recently retired after 38 years as a much-loved art teacher. She maintains a studio in the historic Jones Building in Findlay, Ohio and is also co-owner of The Gaslight Gallery, an artists' cooperative in Findlay. Her work has been exhibited in several galleries in Ohio, as well as Switzerland and the Dominican Republic.
