Looking for a great gift for the youngster in your life? Hannah the Dog stories are available to purchase digitally through iTunes (click here for link) and Google Play (click here for link), and physical CDs are available on Amazon (click here for link) or you can order a deluxe CD from us with cute artwork and an autograph from Hannah! It's great to listen to in the car while driving around town or long road trips with stories averaging around 10 minutes. They make great nap time/bedtimes stories too!
Friday, October 21, 2016
Saturday, October 15, 2016
The Literacy Benefits of Listening
My long term goal is to get the Hannah the Dog stories into a book format, not just audiobook. Until I can get illustrations completed, we have the stories available in audio.
Why listen to stories? As a teacher, I know how important it is to get kids eyes on paper reading and improving their reading skills. I will also tell you as a teacher, that listening comprehension is also very important. Listening is a skill that also takes work. After spending hours in my car with all the long commutes I used to do, I found listening to podcasts a beneficial way to kill the time, and actually help it not seem so long. In fact, when you really get into the story you are listening, you might find yourself wanting a longer commute! You might just find these stories help your children enjoy the commute in your car a little more, too, while working on listening comprehension!
Below is a great article from Scholastic on the benefits of listening:
The Literacy Benefits of Listening: Use audio books to bring life and depth to your child’s reading experience.
Why listen to stories? As a teacher, I know how important it is to get kids eyes on paper reading and improving their reading skills. I will also tell you as a teacher, that listening comprehension is also very important. Listening is a skill that also takes work. After spending hours in my car with all the long commutes I used to do, I found listening to podcasts a beneficial way to kill the time, and actually help it not seem so long. In fact, when you really get into the story you are listening, you might find yourself wanting a longer commute! You might just find these stories help your children enjoy the commute in your car a little more, too, while working on listening comprehension!
Below is a great article from Scholastic on the benefits of listening:
The Literacy Benefits of Listening: Use audio books to bring life and depth to your child’s reading experience.
Thursday, October 6, 2016
CDs are available on Amazon!
Hey everyone!
Physical CDs containing the complete set of six stories are available through Amazon! They are great for listening to in the car or playing at bedtime. I don't know how many times I listened to these driving my nieces around. When they'd spend the night, this was their bedtime story choice and they'd fall asleep to them. They each have their favorite story. It warms my heart :)
Click HERE to go to the page on Amazon where you can purchase.
Physical CDs containing the complete set of six stories are available through Amazon! They are great for listening to in the car or playing at bedtime. I don't know how many times I listened to these driving my nieces around. When they'd spend the night, this was their bedtime story choice and they'd fall asleep to them. They each have their favorite story. It warms my heart :)
Click HERE to go to the page on Amazon where you can purchase.
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| This is Hannah's favorite bedtime story! |
Monday, October 3, 2016
What is the REAL story about Hannah?
Hannah and I met in December of 2008. I had finally purchased my own little home and so it was time to get a dog. I love all kinds of dogs, but I really wanted to get a shelter dog because there are so many dogs out there who need a home and need love. Without homes, these dogs can't survive. So, I began to look. I went to a pet fair where I did fall in love with this Australian shepherd mix (a favorite breed of mine), but I just wasn't ready to make a final decision. I walked around more and even went to the area where they had the kennels with dogs behind these fences looking sad and miserable. It almost broke my heart (if you know me, you know I will cry at any sad animal story...in fact I refuse to watch movies if there is any sad ending with a dog). I went back to see about Dallas, the aussie mix, but he had been adopted out already. I left the pet fair without a dog...but I wasn't really ready to commit just yet anyway since I hadn't really settled into my new home yet.
I found Petfinder online and began to scroll through available dogs on there. I had certain criteria, one of which was an adult dog. I didn't want to deal with house training a dog. Another criteria was not so much shedding and medium/large sized. I found a page for Hannah that labeled her as a German Shepherd/Rhodesian Ridgeback mix about 3 years old (yeah...I clearly did not know about German Shepherds and their notorious shedding). She had no tail, which was not something I liked. A dog should have a tail. After some thought, this was not a deal breaker and could even be a positive thing since she wouldn't be able to knock over glasses on the coffee table by wagging her tail. I thought she was cute and interesting, so I contacted the foster parent (yes! dogs need foster families so they don't have to stay in a shelter).
Here is the sad part of her story...Hannah was placed in a shelter in L.A. sometime around August. I don't know why. She remained there until her time was about to end. The workers thought she was too sweet of a dog for this to happen, so they contacted someone who loved dogs and she came down to rescue her and foster her. She was fostering Hannah, but there were other dogs in the picture and it was decided it was better for Hannah to go to another location that could board her. Eventually she was moved again to a trainer who worked with her and helped her out some with behaviors. At that trainer's business is where I first met Hannah.
Hannah had this adorable look on her face, her coloring was beautiful, and she was a little timid. I quickly fell for her. I went up to visit her a few more times and the trainer brought her down to me on January 8th, 2009. My roommate and I were very excited to get Hannah, but I remember feeling the gravity of the responsibility after I took ownership of her! Hannah absolutely stole my heart and became more than just some pet. You may say fur-baby, fur-child, whatever phrase you'd like, but for sure she is a part of the family.
Hannah is definitely adventurous and quirky. Her six different moves in a time span of three months may be why she has some separation anxiety when it comes to me. She doesn't like change much and feels the most comfortable at home or out on a trail. We are sure she has German Shepherd in her, but we really aren't so sure what the other parts of her are. We just know she is a lovable mutt. She definitely has the guard-dog tendencies of a German Shepherd, but she has a strong hunting instinct. She will chase anything that moves quickly - lizards, rabbits, squirrels, Fed-Ex trucks, UPS trucks, mail trucks... She has a fearlessness about her when the hunt is on and she is a very strong muscular dog. Her coat is thick in the winter and sheds like crazy in the summer. She has the most beautiful brown/black markings on her face and ears with a white patch coming up her chest. Her little bob where her tail used to be moves up and down in excitement when she greets someone. She is much older now, which is betrayed by all the white/gray hairs on her muzzle. She sleeps more these days, snoring away, but she still has these deep brown eyes that melt my heart every time. I am forever grateful to all the people who kept her alive and gave me the opportunity to love her. I understand even more the importance for people to rescue dogs from the shelters when I think of Hannah's real story.
Here is a favorite picture of Hannah and I taken out on a hike the last year, doing what we love best to do together.
I found Petfinder online and began to scroll through available dogs on there. I had certain criteria, one of which was an adult dog. I didn't want to deal with house training a dog. Another criteria was not so much shedding and medium/large sized. I found a page for Hannah that labeled her as a German Shepherd/Rhodesian Ridgeback mix about 3 years old (yeah...I clearly did not know about German Shepherds and their notorious shedding). She had no tail, which was not something I liked. A dog should have a tail. After some thought, this was not a deal breaker and could even be a positive thing since she wouldn't be able to knock over glasses on the coffee table by wagging her tail. I thought she was cute and interesting, so I contacted the foster parent (yes! dogs need foster families so they don't have to stay in a shelter).
Here is the sad part of her story...Hannah was placed in a shelter in L.A. sometime around August. I don't know why. She remained there until her time was about to end. The workers thought she was too sweet of a dog for this to happen, so they contacted someone who loved dogs and she came down to rescue her and foster her. She was fostering Hannah, but there were other dogs in the picture and it was decided it was better for Hannah to go to another location that could board her. Eventually she was moved again to a trainer who worked with her and helped her out some with behaviors. At that trainer's business is where I first met Hannah.
Hannah had this adorable look on her face, her coloring was beautiful, and she was a little timid. I quickly fell for her. I went up to visit her a few more times and the trainer brought her down to me on January 8th, 2009. My roommate and I were very excited to get Hannah, but I remember feeling the gravity of the responsibility after I took ownership of her! Hannah absolutely stole my heart and became more than just some pet. You may say fur-baby, fur-child, whatever phrase you'd like, but for sure she is a part of the family.
Hannah is definitely adventurous and quirky. Her six different moves in a time span of three months may be why she has some separation anxiety when it comes to me. She doesn't like change much and feels the most comfortable at home or out on a trail. We are sure she has German Shepherd in her, but we really aren't so sure what the other parts of her are. We just know she is a lovable mutt. She definitely has the guard-dog tendencies of a German Shepherd, but she has a strong hunting instinct. She will chase anything that moves quickly - lizards, rabbits, squirrels, Fed-Ex trucks, UPS trucks, mail trucks... She has a fearlessness about her when the hunt is on and she is a very strong muscular dog. Her coat is thick in the winter and sheds like crazy in the summer. She has the most beautiful brown/black markings on her face and ears with a white patch coming up her chest. Her little bob where her tail used to be moves up and down in excitement when she greets someone. She is much older now, which is betrayed by all the white/gray hairs on her muzzle. She sleeps more these days, snoring away, but she still has these deep brown eyes that melt my heart every time. I am forever grateful to all the people who kept her alive and gave me the opportunity to love her. I understand even more the importance for people to rescue dogs from the shelters when I think of Hannah's real story.
Here is a favorite picture of Hannah and I taken out on a hike the last year, doing what we love best to do together.
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