Books with author Mark Todd

Cagney, Professional Therapy Dog is about a school therapy dog, Cagney. Marsha Todd, her partner, is an elementary school counselor. She and Cagney have collaborated as a therapy dog team serving primarily underprivileged children for ten years. The book has been well received by children, educators, and therapists. It is written in Cagney's voice describing her training, work in a school setting, and home life. For her diligent service to children, Cagney was named the 2012 Professional Pet of the Year by the Kansas Veterinary Medical Association, primarily as a result of the letters of recommendation fifth grade students wrote at their school nominating her for the award. A great deal of research has been conducted about the healing power of pets and therapy dogs. While petting a therapy dog, blood pressures and heart rates have been documented to decrease. In addition, when interacting with a therapy dog, the brain releases endorphins which increase feelings of happiness and well-being, helping to facilitate the healing process. Professional therapy dogs working in school settings assist students in many ways. They can reinforce positive behaviors, model appropriate social skills, listen to children read, listen to or walk with children who are feeling upset, or engage in therapeutic play sessions with them. Cagney retired this year. The book was written to honor her years of service to children and is dedicated to the children she lovingly served. Mrs. Todd is a licensed professional counselor, registered play-therapist, and has received training in Animal Assisted Play Therapy.

Three million years in the future. The atmosphere of the Solar System has been dramatically altered. The human race is extinct and a new species has evolved. The industrial planet of Zgasta is about to explode. This sort of thing happens a lot and most people just run away. Zake, however, does the exact opposite when he learns that his best friend, Karra De Karra, and his favourite heavy metal band, Ducks of Destruction, have been kidnapped by Zgasta's angry workforce. With the help of Poda the pilot, a couple of mercenaries called Astra Vega and Vak Clancy, several significant space-time anomalies and a bunch of blue twinkly things, Zake might just end up . . . doing stuff. Zake's not a hero - he's a Dingbat! Ducks of Destruction is a madcap sci-fi comedy full of quirky characters and surreal situations.