Ever wanted a four-legged approach to the two-legged challenge of teaching civility to young children? That's what we've created with the Boomer and Halley project. Boomerang, an Australian Shepherd dog, and Halley's Comet, a silver streak of a cat, are always having adventures and mis-adventures. They are guided back to good behavior by their adoptive "parents" Harold and Edna Sanders without violence, anger, or bad language. The family learns, laughs, and plays together along with a variety of "characters" in the small Southern town of Shady Pines.

When I started writing these stories, I had no idea they would tap a growing angst in this country. Time after time, I hear from parents, grandparents and educators they can't believe how rude we've become as a nation. They wonder how the kids growing up now will learn good values. 

I tell them there's a lot to be learned from the four-legged friends who inhabit our lives. Consistent parenting doesn't just happen between the two-legged types. When you see the woman taking her dog to obedience class while her child runs screaming through the pet store - you know we need to take a good look at our own behavior!