Helping kids communicate with help from Yankee the dog

By Gillian Graham Staff Writer
Biddeford Saco OOB Courier - October 2, 2008

Two area moms are aiming to educate children and parents about bullying prevention with their new book, “Yankee Go Home!” Author Deb Landry of Saco and illustrator Christina St. Cyr of Scarborough will host a book release party from 5:30 to 8 p.m. tonight (Oct. 2) at the Oceanside Grille at The Brunswick Resort on West Grand Avenue in Old Orchard Beach. The party is open to anyone who would like to meet Landry, St. Cyr and Yankee, Landry’s standard poodle featured in “Yankee Go Home!”

Yankee is left home alone during the day while his “parents” work. Though he has plenty of bones and toys to play with, Yankee ventures out of his yard to explore. Ignoring the warnings of neighbors and other dogs, he wanders until he encounters Kit and Caboodle. The two dogs bully Yankee after he asks to play with them, calling him a “mangy breed.” With the help of another dog, Akela, Yankee makes his way back home. Once his mom and dad find out what happened, Yankee is enrolled in doggy day care– a safe place with adults. In the end, he learns there is no place like home.“He finds out the world isn’t as safe as he thought it was,” Landry said. “It’s a fun, light story that children can relate to by inserting the animals into situations they may have.”

Landry said the book sends a message to children and parents about staying home alone, bullying, safety and trust. Additionally, the story encourages safe places to allow children to play and make friends, whether in school or at home, she said. “It’s going to help them make the right choice when they’re in that situation themselves,” St. Cyr said. The story, designed for children age 4 to 8, helps facilitate an open connection between children and adults and encourages them to spend quality time together, Landry said. “The values, the lessons in the book will help them better communicate,” St. Cyr said. This book marks the first time Landry and St. Cyr have worked together. Landry, owner of Bryson Taylor Publishing, is the author of children’s book “Sticks, Stones and Stumped,” three children’s plays, one adult play and is a parenting coach. St. Cyr is an online advertising manager for Maine Today. Landry and St. Cyr met during a “girls’ night out” and knew each other for a year before beginning their collaboration. After Landry, who had the book’s characters in mind, broke down the story by page, they created a storyboard to brainstorm ideas. “Basically, she left me alone for about four weeks [to illustrate],” St. Cyr said. “We wanted to make sure this came out and was ready for the start of the school year.” To celebrate the beginning of a new school year, they gave away a copy of “Yankee Go Home!” each day for a month through Raising Maine, where both women blog. Raising Maine is a Web site designed to allow mothers to “learn, share and connect.” “It’s been a big vehicle we’ve used to market the book,” St. Cyr said. Landry and St. Cyr said they have had positive feedback from the book. “Everybody loves how colorful it is,” St. Cyr said. St. Cyr and Landry will soon begin work on a second children’s book. Landry said the book will be coauthored by someone from the Miss America organization, who she declined to identify.

The book, “The Snapdragon Princess,” will center on self-esteem and social issues.“My focus is to empower [children] to be pillars in their community, to have self-esteem,” Landry said. “It’s so wonderful to be able to teach them and see them excited about reading and writing.” The 28-page hardcover book is available at brysontaylorpublishing.com, www.amazon.com and can be ordered through Barnes and Noble and Border’s bookstores.