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Jody A. Dean, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist with 28 years experience specializing in children, adolescents, and athletes. She continues to professionally consult from her home in Missouri, where she lives with her three dogs, including Roxie the Doxie. Please visit them at www.TallyHoPublishing.com where both Dr. Dean & Doxie can be contacted by children and caregivers alike.
Delightfully illustrated by Susie Lee Jin.
The book also includes a Parent & Therapist Guide for Adoptive Families written by professional therapist, Renee Smola, MS, LPC.
Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite
Roxie the Doxie Finds Her Forever Home is a children's animal picture book written by Jody A. Dean, Ph.D. and illustrated by Susie Lee Jin. Roxie knew it was going to be a very special day when her foster mom, Dawn, woke her up that morning, but she didn't remember exactly why at first. Then she remembered. Her forever mom was coming to meet her and take her to her new home. Doxie was so excited by this, but she was also a little bit nervous. Would her new mom like her, and would she be as kind and nice as Dawn was? Dawn was very reassuring and told Roxie that she had met her new mom and had even visited Roxie's new forever home. She also told Roxie that she would have a new sister there, Mina, who would be her companion and playmate. When Lisa, her new mom, drove up in her car, Roxie rushed to the door and tried not to look nervous or scared -- but she was, a little bit. Lisa had a big smile on her face as she came in, however, and she bent down and rubbed Roxie's chin, which made Roxie feel much better. Before she knew it, they had reached Roxie's new home, where her new sister was waiting, and Roxie would discover that everything was even better than she had imagined it could be.
Jody A. Dean's inspiring pet rescue story for children, Roxie the Doxie Finds Her Forever Home, describes what it's like for new adoptees and their families. While the story itself is about a young dachshund and her transition from a foster to a forever home, many aspects of this story will be relevant to adoptive parents and their families. The Parent and Therapist Guides to Adoption that are located in the back of the book are filled with ideas for using the story to interact with adoptees and their new families in fun and productive ways, including ways to reassure new children who might be frightened of losing their identity in their new environment, and talking out siblings' concerns about sharing parents, toys and lives. Roxie's story is gentle, charming and guaranteed to bring a smile to everyone’s faces.
Susie Lee Jin's illustrations work perfectly with the story. I especially love the facial expressions she gives Roxie, Dawn, Lisa and Mina. You can sense the emotional ties between Roxie and her foster family and feel the growing bonds between Roxie, her new mom and Mina. Roxie the Doxie Finds Her Forever Home is also an ideal way to introduce the subject of a new pet to young children, as it deals with the uncertainty and nervousness a new family member will feel in what is, at first, a strange environment. It's also a perfect book for adoptive families and children, which may help children feel less different about their adoptive status. Roxie the Doxie Finds Her Forever Home is most highly recommended.
