*(FREE Instant-Download Online Teaching Aids are available on our website at www.FilmoreLiebhund.com to help parents and teachers bring the lessons home to the hearts and minds of kids.)* (Written for 6-9 year old boys and girls.)
So...how can kids best learn to deal with bullying in a safe, productive and kind way?
Enter Filmore Liebhund, an aspiring author and... a Hungarian Sheepdog.
Oh...he's not any old a story dog. He's a real dog, part of a real family in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. (In the book's foreword and appendix you can see a multi-page photo album of Filmore hanging out with his real-life family and friends.)
In his inspiring journey from his rescue to becoming a part of a large flock of sheeple (people), Filmore helps the target audience of 6-9 year old children (boys and girls alike) understand and apply to their lives difficult to explain pre-adolescent challenges and subjects that they will face growing up. As you look at the cover of this book, you will notice that a "Paw Points Seal" serves as a quick-look reference guide to the life-lesson themes embodied in the story:
"Bullying; Conflict Resolution; Getting Along; Self Care and Welfare; Peacemaking; Forgiveness"
"Filmore Meets Fred" is the second book in the Filmore series where his ideal life is suddenly interrupted by the introduction of a grumpy Palm Royal Turkey into the otherwise peaceful confines of his backyard world.
As in all the book of this series, the story is based on the real life relationship that Filmore has with Fred. Their complicated relationship gives a perfect lens to look through regarding how to handle bullying (by Fred) and the conflict resolution steps that Filmore is confronted with.
Each book in this series can be viewed as a lesson-primer that uses both propositional language and clear definition of terms regarding the themes being taught, wrapped up in an engaging storyline, humor, colorful and hilarious attention-grabbing illustrations... all couched in age-appropriate language that makes the lessons easily accessible to the hearts and minds of children.
These are story-lessons that encourage discussion and 'question-and-answer' pauses during the reading to help children grasp the meaning of each life-lesson's terms and meaning. Parents and teachers may circle back with the children using the 'Paw Points Quick Reference' badge on the book cover to quiz the children on the meaning of those terms, how they were illustrated in the story and how they could be applied in the children's lives.
David J. Liebherr, the human hand behind Filmore's paw of authorship, is a retired pastor of over thirty years, including youth ministries. David and his wife, Karla, have raised thirteen children of their own. David's pastoral experience gives him insight into Filmore's 'shepherd's-heart-and-mind ' while his perspective of a father to a large family gives him an earned, tried-and-true wisdom, forged in love, with a commitment to see all children succeed by finding and fulfilling their unique and wonderful purpose in life.
