First Book in the Series!
Morgan the Dog
The Day the Magic Began
Heather Irbinskas

From Morgan House Publishing

Secure Transaction
  $14.95 US
$22.50 Canada

Summary || Order || Press Release || About the Author

What Is This Book About?

Morgan, a mixed-breed Welsh corgi, is hiding under a blanket in his cage at the local animal shelter. As all of his brothers and sisters have been adopted, Morgan is beginning to believe that no one will ever want him.  He watches as a young girl named Brittany and her mother walk up and down the aisles of the animal shelter and peer into each of the cages. When Brittany spots Morgan, she is immediately drawn to him.

Out in the shelter's play yard where the dogs and potential adopters have a chance to get to know each other, Brittany and Morgan tumble and play until a sudden thunderstorm frightens Morgan and he runs away. Panicked, Brittany runs after him and slips and falls down a hill and lands in a fast-moving stream. It is Morgan who dives in and swims to her rescue.

Once safely back in the animal shelter, Brittany and her mother quickly agreed that Morgan is an official member of the family.

This double rescue is just the first of many exciting adventures that Morgan and Brittany will have. Each of them are designed to impart to young readers messages of love and hope and inspiration, coupled with educational information pertaining to each of the stories in the Morgan the Dog series. To augment these stories, a special website has been established to provide youngsters with even more games and lessons and activities.

More New Morgan The Dog Titles are coming soon!

About the Author

Heather Irbinskas is the author of the highly popular children's book, "How JackRabbit Got His Very Long Ears" (Northland Publishing). Now in its sixth printing, this book was voted in the Top Ten by Arizona Young Readers Award in 1996.

Heather's multifaceted career includes being an American Horse Show Association Judge, instructor, and trainer of 1994 "Best Of America's Horse" Charge Alibhai for Grand Prix Dressage.

Her interests in humane and alternative training techniques moved her to develop safety products for dogs and horses. Her patented SNAP-BACKS, a humane alternative to a choke chain, was named as one of the Top Pet Products of the Year by DogWorld Magazine (Dec 97). In 1998, Heather developed a pet seat belt called QUICK STAY that was featured as Safety Product of the Month in DogWatch (Aug 99) a publication of the Cornell University School of Veterinary Medicine.

Heather brings together her abilities to teach children and train animals, with a gift for storytelling in thought provoking ways.

PRESS RELEASE

"New Book Accomplishes Several Goals..."

A new children's book by award winning author Heather Irbinskas introduces young readers to an "almost Welsh corgi" named Morgan whose adventures amuse and e4ntertain while imparting valuable information about such things as pet adoption. In Morgan the Dog: The Day the Magic Began for example,  youngsters are introduced to an animal shelter and taught about the value in considering a mixed-breed dog when looking for a pet.

Irbinskas, who wrote the highly popular children's book titled How Jackrabbit Got His Very Long Ears, said her new book is the first in a series of Morgan the Dog adventures. "In this first book, Morgan is rescued from an animal shelter by a young girl named Brittany and then he saves her from drowning, "Irbinskas said. "Other books will have Morgan and Brittany involved in a variety of intriguing situations around the world, each of them providing readers with factual information and valuable life lessons."

There is a real life Morgan the Dog who is owned by Shanda Friesen whose daughter just happens to be named Brittany. Friesen created the concept for the series when she became discouraged while trying to provide quality learning opportunities on the Internet for her daughter. Friesen also created the idea for the companion website (www.morganthedog.com) which captures Morgan's unique personality and reflects the special relationship between a young child and her dog.