Books with author Karen Dugan

"This heart-warming and delightful story will intrigue and interest children while it charms their parents. It is a pleasure to see a children’s picture book that is exciting and amazing yet accessible and accurate. Always Blue for Chicu captures the life and spirit of this fascinating parrot and the saga of his finding a home with people who understand his needs."—Joanna Burger, author of The Parrot Who Owns MeAlways Blue for Chicu recounts thirty years of an Amazon parrot’s adventures. Captured as a young bird by smugglers, Chicu frees himself from a market-place cage, is befriended by a kindly sailor, Big Blue, and goes to sea, where he finds a new flock in the sailors on board. When Big Blue goes back to sea, friends agree to care for Chicu. Over many long years, Chicu is handed off from one owner to another until he is brought to a parrot sanctuary where, after a long search, Big Blue finds him again in a heart-warming finale.Karen Dugan includes elements of humor to lighten Chicu's story, a tale that might be similar to that of thousands of other exotic birds that are trapped, smuggled, and sold into lives of captivity. Parrots are long-living birds who flourish in flocks with mates and families, flying freely and happily through the treetops; in their captive existence—which may be fifty or sixty years, or longer—they often endure isolation and a tedious, neglected life without proper care or human attention. Through more than seventy striking, full-color illustrations, Chicu’s story opens a window into the life of these exotic birds whose very beauty leads to their imprisonment, birds whose unique qualities call out for understanding and care.

Ms April & Ms Mae is a finalist for Foreword Magazine’s 2009 Book of the Year.Lively, charming art illuminates this zesty modern fable. Ms. April loves her field and forest, pond and hill. When widespread land development forces animals from their rural homes, Ms. April invites them to live safe and protected on her land. With Ms. Mae, a resourceful fox (and her closest friend), she shelters the animals until the day she falls ill and greedy enemies seize the moment to invade her land, bulldozers poised. At this moment of peril, Ms. Mae steps in to match wits with their adversaries.In this book, Karen Dugan asks: "What would an intelligent animal do if her relatives and their homes were threatened? As human beings, we’d call the police, go to court, or fight a war. But in these pages I suggest another way. I am talking about the possibility of civility to all, of walking as gently as possible upon this earth."Karen Dugan speaks to the kinship of beings and the need for a secure home for all creatures.Karen Dugan, author and artist, has published twenty previous books, many of them prizewinners (Reading Rainbow selection winner; Skipping Stone Honor Award; Winner, Scientific American Young Reader’s Book Awards—Multicultural; Winner, International Reading Association; and Honor, Notable Children’s Book of the Year). Her most recent title is Mazes & Labyrinths (Lankford / HarperCollins, 2007). A graduate of the Parsons School of Design, she lives a rural life in North Attleboro, Massachusetts.

Be different. Be unique. But what if people don’t accept you for being YOU?MyrtleKay Has Something to Say is a sweet story about a young sea turtle and her best friend, a whale shark named Marge. When she and her friend are bullied for looking different from one another, it’s up to MyrtleKay to stand up to the bully and show her that friends can be friends, no matter what size.This book teaches kids:Not to judge othersHow lack of acceptance can appear in the real worldTo stand up for yourself and othersHow friendship is about sticking together no matter what others sayAfter reading this book, you will be able to speak to children about topics like acceptance, bullying, and never judging others by how they look. With colorful illustrations and a vibrant, strong-willed MyrtleKay, children will be inspired to be like the little sea turtle and “love all, love many, and hold your friends close.”

Be different. Be unique. But what if people don't accept you for being YOU?MyrtleKay Has Something to Say is a sweet story about a young sea turtle and her best friend, a whale shark named Marge. When she and her friend are bullied for looking different from one another, it's up to MyrtleKay to stand up to the bully and show her that friends can be friends, no matter what size.This book teaches kids: Not to judge others How lack of acceptance can appear in the real world To stand up for yourself and others How friendship is about sticking together no matter what others say After reading this book, you will be able to speak to children about topics like acceptance, bullying, and never judging others by how they look. With colorful illustrations and a vibrant, strong-willed MyrtleKay, children will be inspired to be like the little sea turtle and "love all, love many, and hold your friends close."