Coronavirus Book For Children & Families

April 10, 2020

Anyone who is anybody in Chicago’s Southland is familiar with Duke Sterk…a new breed of canine author…known as a “pawthor”…who dictates his stories to K.P. Lynne for publication…although the adorable Goldendoodle has been caught doing his own typing from time to time on a vintage typewriter!

“Stuck In The Doghouse: A Children’s Story About the Coronavirus” debuted as the #10 Hot New Release in Children’s Illness Books on Amazon as well as #20 in Children’s Difficult Discussion Books, with additional distribution to follow at Books-A-Million, Barnes & Noble and Walmart.com to name a few.

The book manages to provide 50 pages of full-color fun, on a grim topic that is anything but fun…yet the story manages to make it fun. Told through the imagination of a dog named Duke…the book provides parents, care takers and guardians with a way to comfort anxious children during the Covid-19 pandemic.

While the book is intended for children, it comes with an informative and exceptionally well-written introduction for adults…a testament to K.P. Lynne’s proven versatility and ability to effortlessly shift gears and write at an adult’s level and a child’s level…all in the same book.

Duke the Dog wakes up on an ordinary day and sets off to explore his magical, almost Sesame Street-like neighborhood – a child’s perfect utopia – only to find all of his favorite places are either closed or offering curb side and take out only. All sense of normalcy has vanished. Even the library and church are closed. The church…by the way…is the most quaint-looking non-denominational church..carefully designed that way so each child can imagine his or her own faith or place of worship.

Duke the Dog runs a gamut of emotions from sad to confused to downright mad, when he comes across a group of humans who are pushing, shoving and hoarding toilet paper at the local grocery store.

Duke’s precious feelings are handled with kid-gloves by K.P. Lynne, whose experience as a school teacher, and creative education consultant, is clearly evident in every word of the story…lovingly echoing the temperament of Mr. Rogers.

If Mr. Rogers were still physically with us…this is the sort of book he would be giving us. The sentiment echoed throughout the story is you are safe…reiterating multiple times to turn to the grown-ups. The grown-ups will keep you safe! Parents are encouraged to read it with their children and re-assured it is okay if they don’t know all the answers.

Duke finally finds a grown-up he trusts…in the form of Dr. Ima Dog…the local veterinarian who dutifully explains everything from proper hand washing – to why we can’t visit Grandma – to social distancing – which is hilariously illustrated in the most entertaining possible way with a diagram of Duke’s dog biscuits, yard sticks and rulers!

The book comes with helpful common-sense ways to prevent the spread of disease – not just Coronavirus – but all diseases and perhaps the most awesome part is two complete pages of ideas to reduce boredom at home…obviously the by-product of the author’s own wildly untamed creative imagination and eagerness to explore news things.

Duke Sterk, the Goldendoodle featured in the story…is the real-life certified therapy dog at Gwendolyn Sterk’s “Sterk Family Law Group, P.C.” in Orland Park, IL! And this is not the dog’s first book either…he previously barked out a book called “Dogs At School Are Totally Cool”.

When asked about the book…the author was quick to turn all the attention to local community leader…Gwendolyn Sterk.

“The whole book was entirely Gwen Sterk’s idea. Being a family law attorney, the well-being of all children is very near and dear to her heart.”, said K.P. Lynne. “The purpose of the book is to help children realize they are not stuck at home…they are safe at home.”

You don’t need a pandemic to read and love “Stuck In The Doghouse: A Children’s Story About the Coronavirus”, as it holds its own as an informative and entertaining “anytime story”…which can be enjoyed by the whole family.

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