I’m excited to report that “Meet The Dogs Of Bedlam Farm” has just been chosen by the University of Wisconsin as a Charlotte Zolotow Honor Book – one of the best children’s picture books – for 2011. “Meet The Dogs Of Bedlam Farm” is my first children’s book (the second, “Lenore Finds A Friend” will be out in September of this year). The Zolotow award is a big deal and it means a lot to me. The stars of the book are the Bedlam Farm dogs – Lenore, Rose, Frieda and Izzy – but especially Lenore, whose great big heart and generous nature have touched a lot of hearts beyond the farm. If you don’t think love is the most powerful force in the human or animal world, wait until you meet Lenore.

I thought it might be simple to write a children’s book, but that is not so. It’s very challenging. I have so many ideas for more kid’s books I can’t even keep track of them.

“Meet The Dogs Of Bedlam Farm” is a celebration of my photographs as well and a wonderful use of them. The message is relevant, I think – if animals can learn to live together, why not humans? So I am now an award-winning children’s book author, and one of the members of the awards committee generously wrote to me to say that she was very impressed by the transition I am making to children’s books. Means a lot. I have to also thank Sally Doherty of Henry Holt Books For Young Readers whose diligent and skilled editing brought the book into focus. And Jennifer Doerr, former publicity director of Holt, who worked so hard along with me to get the book on the New York Times Bestseller List.

If I can, I would love to go to Madison in March for the awards ceremony. Thanks also to you good readers for supporting the idea of this book and the book itself so enthusiastically. Can’t wait to do it again this Fall.