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Spanky and His Blanky by Marissa Jo Cerar, Esme Cerar Monreal Published by Bookfox Press on September 13, 2024
Genres: Children's
Format: eARC
Source: Provided by author for honest review
Goodreads
Spanky is a Shih Tzu, a sweet and fluffy rescue puppy who cannot bear to part with his blanky. Some of the other dogs at the shelter tease Spanky by calling him a baby because he just can’t let go of his blanky. Spanky needs his blanky for comfort, but he doesn’t understand why. Will Spanky be pressured to give up his blanky to fit in with the other dogs, or will he be true to himself?
Julie’s Review:
Spanky and His Blanky is a cute book about a puppy in the shelter who has a security blanky. The other pups tease him, but his kind roommate helps him remember the importance of the blanky – that is reminds him of his mother. On adoption day, he meets a girl who also has her blanky, and a very special bond of shared experience brings them together.
This book is a very sweet read and the illustrations are lovely. But it’s the message the book shares that is sweetest of all. The story shares the importance of remembering who you are and what is important to you (your memories of home). It also bridges the stressful process of being adopted and blending into a new family, while keeping who you are prominent.
This book is an important read for kids especially for foster families and adoptive families. It also reminds the other kids on the playground not to tease someone for having a comfort item, because they do not know their story.
Author Interview:
1) How did you select your topic?
I’m a professional television writer, but I’ve wanted to write a children’s book about my parents’ late Shih Tzu, Spanky, for more than twenty years. The idea first came to me when Spanky was a puppy and wouldn’t part with his blanket. At the time, it was more of a joke. Flash forward to the summer of 2023, when I finally had the time to sit down and craft a story, using Spanky as my inspiration. This time, I had the perfect co-writer—my nine-year-old daughter, who is a voracious reader. We turned the fictional Spanky into a rescue pup with that same attachment to his blanket, but we wanted to tell a story with deeper meaning. So, we set him in an animal shelter and made the story about adoption and identity, subjects that are deeply personal to me and my family.
2) Did you get to pick your illustrator? How do you feel about illustrations in children’s books?
My husband drew the first image of Spanky, based on my parents’ dog. We took that image and shared it with our publisher, who presented us with a handful of illustrators. We chose one whom we felt best captured the emotion of his drawing. After many rounds of notes, we arrived at the wonderful illustrations that ended up in the final draft of Spanky and His Blanky. My goal in all of my work is to make people feel—illustrations must draw readers in and make them care about the characters, human or not. Our talented illustrator, Hanna, definitely accomplished that with Spanky and his furry friends.
3) Do you have a special connection with your children’s book topic or characters?
Yes, a very special connection. As I mentioned Spanky is based on our beloved pet who passed more than ten years ago and many of the other animals are named after our pets, including our rescue pup Winter. But the connection goes much deeper than the animals on the page. As an adoptee and a mother, I wanted to explore the subject of adoption through pet rescue, and writing this with my daughter not only helped me talk to her about my adoption, I hope that it will help other families do the same.
4) Describe the child that is your target reader.
Spanky and His Blanky is best suited for children ages 2 to 6. While we believe any child who loves animals will enjoy our book, we especially hope it will resonate with and connect to entire families touched by adoption, foster care, and/or pet rescue, who are looking for gentle, age-appropriate ways to talk about identity and belonging.
5) Describe the book or series in 10 words or less for people just learning about it.
Spanky, an adorable rescue puppy, finds his forever family.
6) Is there anything you would like people to take away from your book?
I hope readers take away a sense of empathy and connection, not only to the characters but also to the broader ideas of identity and belonging. At its core, Spanky’s story is about finding comfort in who you are, even when the world around you is uncertain. For children, I hope it sparks conversations about love, family, and what it means to feel at home, whether that’s through adoption, foster care, or simply finding your place in the world. Ultimately, I want both kids and adults to come away from the book feeling a little more connected to their own stories.
7) What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
Writing and producing television consumes much of my days, nights, and weekends, so co-writing this children’s book with my daughter was a welcome break from the TV grind. Although I have very little free time, when I’m not writing, I enjoy traveling with my husband, daughter, and our rescue pup Winter, as well as reading, exercising, and watching reruns of RuPaul’s Drag Race or The Real Housewives of New York City.
About the Author
Marissa Jo Cerar is a television writer and producer, honored with an NAACP Image Award and two Humanitas Prizes. Known for character-driven, female-forward stories, her work includes the ABC series Women of the Movement, which earned her an NAACP Image Award and Humanitas Prize. Her Hulu series Black Cake won the 2024 Humanitas Prize and received multiple award nominations, including nominations from GLAAD, the NAACP, and the Gotham TV Awards, among others. Marissa Jo served as Creator, Showrunner, and Executive Producer on Black Cake. She co-authored her first children’s book, Spanky and His Blanky, with her daughter, Esme.
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