That'll Do Pippin
Two puppies share lessons on lasting friendship, grand adventures,
fascinating exploration and living in the extraordinary moment
Pippin, an adorable Border Collie puppy
always knew that his brother, Nigel was
stronger, braver and smarter than he was. He fervently wished with all his
eager, dear heart that he could be exactly like Nigel. Why was he so small and
weak that he couldn't jump as high, run as fast or fearlessly explore the
unknown like his big brother?
One sunny day Pippin noticed the big dogs
herding sheep. From that memorable day on, Pippin hoped with all his being that
he would be a great sheep dog. Pippin knew absolutely that sheep herding was
his purpose. But could he do it? He was such a small puppy.
Both puppies had one plucky longing -
adventures. However, Pippin was naturally cautious and timid .One of Nigel's
favourite endeavours was digging holes, deep holes! Pippin loved to help.
Suddenly, there was a massive hole under the fence and a rare opportunity
presented itself. Nigel darted under the barrier at lightning speed. Pippin
panicked as he saw his best buddy abandoning him. Nigel looked back once and
barked. Pippin had to seize the chance. He hesitated for a moment. Then he raced
after Nigel.
Would it be an adventure worth the risk
and would Pippin find his strength and courage?
Will the pups make it safely home? Will
their brotherly bond and devoted friendship overcome the danger that lives just
beyond the last fence?
I grew up with many dogs, and a sweet,
clever budgie bird named Peter. I would pick up dogs that I found wandering the
streets and bring them home, hoping that one more dog could join my family. My
grandmother was often telling me that the stray dog belonged to one of the
neighbours.
"Dog" people are not just fond
of their dogs; they are obsessed with them. They understand dogs, respect them
and recognize their nature. The bond between dogs and their persons is
unbreakable. I often think dogs understand us better than we understand
ourselves. They instantly know when we are sad, happy, scared or upset. They
are comforters and friends. They live in the moment and love to explore,
especially if their person is with them.
Pippin is one of my three dogs. He is the
most remarkable boy - his personality in the book IS my Pippin. He is obsessed
with sports games. He is clever and loyal. He loves to run in the woods with
his dog family, Indy and Maya. Since my dogs and I are always hiking through
the forest, I constantly watch them interact with nature. They relish jumping
logs, racing down the dirt paths, exploring around trees and watching for any
creature along the way.
Oh, and Pippin loves being around sheep.
Nigel truly is Pippin's brother. He
happily lives in the United States and excels at Agility. Nigel is smart, brave
and strong.
The brothers went to their own homes at
seven weeks old. It is possible that one day they will meet again and
experience an adventure.
Having lived with many Border Collies, I knew
they were the perfect breed for my book. Each one has always been extremely
smart, energetic, focused, resourceful and possessed with an uncanny ability to
reason.
My favourite childhood stories always had
animals and particularly dogs. Children and dogs create a magical world of
play, friendship and exciting adventures. I believe that dogs are the
preeminent teachers.
Writing about Pippin and Nigel's world of
goofy antics and mishaps just fell into place.
One of the most absorbing parts of creating
this book was drawing the illustrations. Border Collies offer so many
enchanting facial expressions, extreme athletics and a penchant for fun and
trouble. I wanted my illustrations to be an integral part of the story and
capture Pippin and Nigel's unique personalities.
The whole process of the book was a great
adventure for me. I enjoyed the journey from writing to illustrating, so of
course, I had to write and illustrate a second book, Pippin and Nigel's
Christmas Adventure.
About the Author
Anne Kaufmann is both the illustrator and author of the Pippin and Nigel
adventure series for young children. She is the also the author of “Glenn
Gould: Sketches of Solitude.” Anne is a former teacher librarian. She studied
English Literature at Wilfrid Laurier
University and the University
of Toronto. Her passions include
music, books, animals and creating nature journals. She has shared her life
with dogs, horses, cats and birds.A nature lover, she spends many hours
exploring the forests north of her home and walking her dogs, Indy, Maya and
Pippin. She loves spending time with her horse, Aria. Some of her favourite
childhood memories include summers at her cottage on Lake Simcoe,
settling back on the family couch reading while listening to her dad’s weekly
String Quartet group, playing with her dogs and wishing for a horse. She is
currently working on the third book of the Pippin and Nigel Adventure series
and a historical fiction novel on the great Canadian horse and Kentucky
Derby winner, Northern Dancer. She lives in Ontario,
Canada.
About the Book:
Pippin and Nigel are two charming
puppy brothers who live on a wonderful farm. They are best buddies and do
everything together. They are full of mischief, energy and fun! Pippin is the
smaller puppy who wants with all his heart to be like his brother Nigel. Nigel
is brave. Nigel is strong. Nigel is smart. One day, the puppies escape from
their yard into the woods where they experience many adventures. Nigel is
always there to help and protect Pippin. Then Pippin solves a dangerous problem
all by himself and learns that it is okay just to be Pippin.
This story teaches young
children the importance of believing in themselves and that they each have
their own wonderful gifts and abilities.
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