Sandra Philipson is a reading specialist and educational consultant. She has advanced degrees in education, reading, and literacy. She is active in a variety of educational organizations and has traveled to hundreds of schools with her literacy programs and her dogs, Max, Annie, Tak, and Trini. She is the author of five other Max and Annie books as well as Executive Co-Producer of “Miracle Dogs,” a family movie based on her books and starring her dogs, Max and Annie. Mrs. Philipson lives in the Village of Chagrin Falls, Ohio with her husband, Elliot, and her much loved dogs, Max, Tak and Trini. Mrs. Philipson is also the proud mother of two grown-up daughters, Rebecca and Julia.

Jenny Campbell has been a freelance illustrator for 18 years. Raised in Arizona, she has a journalism degree and spent 13 years as a newspaper reporter in California. In 1988 Jenny switched to cartooning and eventually landed in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. She now draws the nationally syndicated cartoon strip, “Flo & Friends.” In addition, Jenny illustrates numerous children’s books and educational materials and is a monthly contributor to Highlights for Children. Areal animal lover, Jenny does all the artwork for Geauga Humane Society’s Rescue Village gratis and has designed a pet license plate for the state of Ohio.

Max is now 10 years old. These days he spends a lot of time visiting children in schools with his mother, Sandy Philipson, and his dog brother, Tak, and dog sister, Trini. In the past seven years the dogs have been to more than 375 schools plus countless libraries, bookstores, and public events. Since he is now a middle-aged dog, you would think that Max would have slowed down a bit, but not really. Max has escaped from schools and libraries approximately 38 times!

He has jumped over fences, pushed open doors, pulled away from his dog walkers, and even jumped out a window! At one school he got loose, ran down the corridor to the principal’s office, jumped up on her desk, and ate her lunch!

Max really is a sweet guy who sometimes tries to be good. However, his desire to hunt critters and eat “people food” seems to get him in a lot of trouble, especially in school. He is always looking for his next opportunity to escape, so if Max is visiting your school, beware! Put away your lunches, hide your trash cans, put the class pets in a safe place, and keep the windows closed!

Tak is now 4 years old, but he is still the “baby” of the household. Tak has grown into a beautiful springer spaniel, and he likes to be clean, well-groomed, andadmired. He prances when he walks like the show dog he is. Unlike his often-scruffy brother, Tak is not always hunting. He likes to cuddle up on the sofa, be read to, and be loved. Tak, Max, and Trini are AKC Canine Good Citizens and registered Therapy Dogs (Therapy Dog International), but Tak is the best of the group at snuggling up to everyone he meets. He loves his school and therapy work and is always ready to go for a ride in the car or a sail on the boat! Trini is around 6 years old. (Since we do not know her birthday, we have to estimate.) She is the latest addition to the family.

Trini was rescued in the summer of 2005 after having been abandoned. If you have read Forever Home, then you know her story, both real and fictional. Since Trini cannot fill in the details of her life before she came to Ohio in 2005, we have created her past based on her temperament and behaviors. She is a wonderful three-legged girl who is carrying on the tradition of inspiration that Annie started six years ago.

Trini is sweet and kind. She loves children as well as grown-ups. However, like Max, Trini is an escape artist and hunter! She loves to run, chase, and wiggle through fences. Still, she always comes home sooner rather than later. Trini is grateful to have found her forever home in Ohio, and the family is thrilled that she is here with us.

Annie passed away on August 3, 2005 at the age of 15. Annie starred in five books in the Max and Annie series and a feature movie, Miracle Dogs, and visited more than 250 schools, libraries, bookstores and hospitals. She inspired many who suffered from cancer, both adults and children. Annie was the model of dignity and canine wisdom; in the books, as in life, Annie was the problem solver and the voice of reason. She is missed daily, but her memory stone resides in our yard and reads, “Annie, 1990-2005: Annie may have lost her leg, but she showed us all the way.”

Chagrin River Publishing Company was founded to produce and publish high quality books for children and to give children a voice in what is published for them. We are committed to producing books that incorporate appropriate vocabulary, excellent illustrations, and themes that emphasize the best in childhood and life. All of our books have been test read to children at a variety of grade levels, and the children responded with reviews and critiques. The comments of these child critics were taken into account in manuscript rewrites and illustration modification. The final products truly reflect the voice of kids.