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| Don Hoffman |
In honor of the fire dog's birthday, children's author Don Hoffman recently published a book outlining safety tips for children. Sparky the Fire Dog is a fun yet important story about how Sparky got his start working in fire safety. You can also read the review of Sparky the Fire Dog on my children's book website.
Hoffman, who lives in the Upper East Side of Manhattan with his Champion English Bulldog, Turbo, is an Emmy Award-winning children's book author and a Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators fellow. He recently took some time out of his busy schedule to chat with me about Sparky and his love of children's books.
Tell me about your background as a children's author. Where did you grow up and did that have any influence on your career as an author?
"I have done many things and lived in many places and states. A former television news reporter, TV host, director of communications and public affairs for one of the largest school districts in the United States, clothes salesperson at Neiman Marcus and a home health aide for mentally retarded adults, all have given me a vast diverse amount of life experiences to "pull" from.
"I think though, the most important experience came when I was just 17 -- when my mother died. Just two years before her death, my mom gave birth to my sister, Esther. She then became sick and I helped care for Esther. I look back at that now and realize that really was a life altering experience.
"It was that time being with my sister and taking care of her the first idea for a children's book came to me. I was at the playground with my sister. We lived in Brooklyn, and my sister and I were running around acting crazy. All of the sudden a little boy and a girl came running over to us and wanted to show off their new sneakers and that they were learning to "tie" their own laces. I also heard about their new bike and how one was even starting to use a potty chair, because, as they said, 'We are big boys and big girls' and can do that now. That day, and that experience, stuck with me.
"A few years later I wrote my very first book, Billy is a Big Boy, about a boy celebrating his fifth birthday by telling everyone at the party all the things that he can do now that he was a big boy. This self-esteem book was first published in hardcover, and the sales were so brisk that it was then picked up by a larger publishing company which released it in paperback. After phenomenal sales, the same published released Abigail is a Big Girl. In all, the Billy and Abigail series comprised four titles in which the title characters did some great and fun things together.
"The success of that series ultimately lead to my relationship with Scholastic. My most recent title for them, A Very Special Snowflake, is one of Scholastic Book's Top Sellers-- selling more than one million copies!"
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| Sparky the Fire Dog |
Why did you write "Sparky the Fire Dog?"
"As a children’s author, my goal is to write books that will help kids learn and grow, and I’ve always been a big believer in using animals to help kids relate to important and sometimes difficult situations. When I was approached by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to write a book in celebration of the 60th birthday of Sparky the Fire Dog, I could not have been more honored and excited. As the NFPA’s official mascot and spokesdog, Sparky has long played an important role in communicating fire safety to kids and families."
Did you plan to release this book in conjunction with National Fire Prevention Week?
"Absolutely! The release of Sparky the Fire Dog coincides with Sparky’s 60th birthday and Fire Prevention Week (October 9-15, 2011), an annual public awareness campaign sponsored by the NFPA. It focuses on the small actions that can make a big difference in protecting your family from fire. These actions include creating a home escape plan, installing and checking home smoke alarms and installing home fire sprinklers."
What do you hope readers will get from this book?
"In Sparky the Fire Dog, Sparky takes a group of young animals through the neighborhood, pointing out potential hazards, giving basic fire prevention and safety tips, and showing them how to be prepared in case of an emergency. From having a working smoke alarm to being careful with candles and knowing where your exits are, Sparky’s advice may be the most important thing children—and their parents—ever learn. "I very much hope that adults will benefit from the book as much as children. We all remember learning fire safety lessons from firefighters or Sparky when we were in school, but many of us may not have carried all the crucial fire safety practices we once learned into our day-to-day lives as adults."
Who is your favorite children's author?
"This is an easy answer for me -- Dr. Seuss. He did amazing things with amazing wonderful animals that kids always remember. Hard to say which book is my favorite from his amazing collection --but I would have to say Green Eggs and Ham. I even made my mom make green eggs for me, or rather a close approximation. The result? 'I shouldn’t have eaten them, Sam I Am.' "
Is there one children's book that you think had a profound effect on children and society?
"The Story of Ferdinand the bull. This Oscar-winner was ahead of its time – a charming story that centers around a bull who preferred to sit under trees and smell flowers to fighting with his fellow animals. I remember when I first read it: It made me realize that it was OK to be different, and that being yourself is something you should celebrate. There is no more lesson as important for kids and society to learn."
Where is your book available for purchase?
“Sparky the Fire Dog is available where books are sold and through school and public libraries, as well as many online venues. Customers may call (800) 255-3214 for ordering information or they can purchase books through our website at www.charlesbridge.com.”
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