WAUWATOSA, Wis., April 26, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- When the loveable bulldog Stinky and his mother move to a new neighborhood, he is anxious to make new friends. In Jackie Valent's new children's book, Stinky the Bulldog (now available through AuthorHouse), he learns the true meaning of a friend.
Stinky wakes up in his new room and eagerly goes outside to introduce himself to kids in the neighborhood. After approaching one child, he is heartbroken. The boy does not want to be friends with a dog named Stinky. Sad but undeterred, Stinky approaches two girls jumping rope. They, too, shun him and mockingly hold their noses because of his unusual name.
He comes to his mother with his eyes full of tears. He says, "Mama, why did you name me Stinky? The kids I met today don't want to be friends with me because they think Stinky is a horrible name. Why would you give me such a horrible name?" She offers love and wisdom when she tells him that true friends don't judge people based on what's on the outside. It's only what's on the inside that counts.
Stinky then sets out to find a "true friend," which he finds in a little girl named Lily. Lily and Stinky become great companions because each likes the other for who they truly are.
Packed with vibrant illustrations by Michael Richlen, Stinky the Bulldog is a heartwarming, creative story for children that teaches an important lesson. It is a lesson, Valent writes, that even parents can take away from this captivating new children's book.
Valent is an author from the Milwaukee area who spent most of her early career in the human resources field, where she saw the negative effects of unfounded judgments people make about others. She works with community groups that focus on diversity, such as Young Professionals of Milwaukee, Mosaic Council and IDEAL. Stinky the Bulldog is her first book. More information is available at www.stinkythebulldog.com.
AuthorHouse is the world leader in publishing and print-on-demand services. Founded in 1997, AuthorHouse has helped more than 18,500 people worldwide become published authors. For more information, visit www.authorhouse.com.