Home of
Blueberry Bear
⚠️
CAUTION!
Have Schools
Gone to
the Dogs?
Therapy Dog on the Premises
Author Visits,
Like No Other!
Students and teachers may experience...
🐾 High volume of hands
shooting into the air!
🐾 Learning disguised as fun!
Thinking, problem-solving, and literacy skills sneak into the experience.
🐾 Up-close dog interaction!
Students don't just watch Kong or Suki — they participate with them.
🐾 Unexpected confidence!
There's something about working with a dog that makes trying feel a little easier.
🐾 Lots of smiles,
laughter,
and WOWs!
Please note: Side effects may last long after we leave.
Even quieter students may
suddenly want a turn.
Because learning doesn't always have to feel like a lesson.
🐾 Lots of smiles, laughter, and WOWs!
Because learning doesn't always
have to feel like a lesson. .
🐾 Learning disguised as fun!
Thinking, problem-solving, and
literacy skills sneak into the experience.
🐾 High volume of hands shooting into the air!
Even quieter students may suddenly want a turn.
🐾 Unexpected confidence!
There's something about working with
a dog that makes trying feel a little easier.
🐾 Up-close dog interaction!
Students don't just watch Kong or Suki—
they participate with them.
Please note: Side effects may last long after we leave.
⚠️
CAUTION!
Therapy Dog on the Premises
Students may experience...
I've been a therapy dog handler since 2013, but it wasn't until 2020, while volunteering with Suki and Kong alongside children with special needs, that I discovered something remarkable...
Watching the positive impact of animal-assisted therapy teams had on children's learning, inspired me to create interactive author presentations where my therapy dogs become part of the lesson—not just part of the visit.
How kids and dogs learn well together!
This is not just an author visit with a therapy dog.
It's learning WITH one.One last note -
One of my favorite parts of every visit is:
partnering with teachers to gently encourage shy and hesitant students to become part of the experience.
Although most shy students do elect to participate, it is always the student's choice.
Have additional questions? Check my Q&A below or email me.
Ready to book? Let's do it!
SUKI
KONG
Welcome to my classroom where,
Dreams are chased,
Imaginations roam free,
and Reading is fun!
What Makes My Author Visits, Like No Other?
My assistants have four paws, wagging tails, and a special gift for helping children learn.
Meet Suki and Kong, my two registered therapy dogs.
This isn't your typical author visit of...
Meet & Greet. Read Story. Pet.
Instead, students...
Interact. Participate. Engage. Connect.
....as they learn alongside a therapy dog.
Presentations
A fun farm adventure filled with humor, sound words, and plenty of blueberry mischief!
Blueberry Bear gives educators a playful way to explore cause and effect, sequencing, prediction, actions and consequences—
all while showing young readers that learning can be fun.
Blueberry Bear
Preschool—1st Grade🐾 Sequencing
🐾 Cause & Effect
🐾 Onomatopoeia
A heartwarming woodland adventure about friendship, trust, courage, and acceptance. A Furry Friends Tale encourages students to think about character choices, relationships, and what it means to be a good friend while building comprehension and making meaningful connections to the story.
Leafy Sea Dragon I Spy ABCs
Pre-—Kindergarten🐾 Letter Sounds
🐾 Letter Sequencing
An interactive alphabet and I Spy adventure that turns young readers into ocean explorers!
Leafy Sea Dragon I Spy ABCs builds letter recognition, vocabulary, observation, listening, and critical-thinking skills while introducing children to fascinating ocean life and making learning an adventure.
Blueberry Bear — A Furry Friends Tale
2nd—3rd Grade
Can be adapted for Kindergarten— 1st Grade
🐾 Sequencing
🐾 Onomatopoeia
🐾 Friendship, Trust, Courage, and Acceptance
🐾 SEL
🐾 Character Traits
🐾 Blueberry Bear Video Activities
Preschool–Kindergarten
Video 1: Parts of a Front Cover
Voideo 2: Parts of a Book Cover
Dogs Have Jobs Too
🐾 What Therapy Dogs Do
🐾 Therapy Dogs vs. Service Dogs
Keep Safe Around Dogs
Learn how to safely approach and interact with a dog.
Figurative Writing
🐾 Figurative Writing with Onomatopeia! Sounds Italian—Onomatopeia!
Questions? I Have the Answers!
Can students purchase books?
Yes. Discounted books for my author visits are purchased directly through me. I’ll provide order forms for students to take home approximately two weeks before my visit.
Books can be pre-signed. Ordering and personalization details can be arranged when scheduling the visit.
Are Students allowed to interact with the therapy dog?
Yes! Student interaction is an important part of my visits. Depending on the presentation and group size, students may interact directly with Suki or Kong through demonstrations, activities, commands, and treat-driven participation. Students may also sit near the therapy dog during storytime and have an opportunity to pet them at the end of the visit.
What if a student is allergic, afraid, or doesn't want to participate with the therapy dog?
That's perfectly okay. Students are never required or pressured. to touch or interact with the therapy dog.
Participation is at whatever level feels comfortable for each individual.
Recommendations:
Kong and Suki do shed. If students have severe allergies, I would have them sit in the back.Students who are afraid of dogs, I would also suggest them sitting from the middle to the back.
My Teacher's Packet includes a Therapy Dog Notification form to send home with the students.
Can you work with shy / hesitant students?
Yes. I especially enjoy giving quieter or more hesitant students opportunities to participate and build confidence. Teachers can identify students ahead of time who may benefit from assisting with the therapy dog or an activity. Participation is always gently encouraged—never forced.
What is a "doggie reset", and why does the therapy dog need one?
Even therapy dogs who love their jobs need a break! A short “doggie reset” gives Kong or Suki some 3R-time — Relieve, Relax, and Recharge — before the next group of students.
These breaks help keep my therapy dog comfortable, happy, and ready to work.
Please note: As a therapy dog handler, I am responsible for protecting the health, safety, and well-being of Kong and Suki, just as I am responsible for those we visit. For medical, safety, or other unforeseen circumstances, I reserve the right to substitute therapy dogs before a visit or end a therapy dog’s participation during a visit. A happy, healthy therapy dog makes for the best experience for everyone.Are Kong and Suki registered therapy dogs?
Yes. Kong and Suki became registered therapy dogs in 2020 through the Alliance of Therapy Dogs.
As registered therapy dogs, Kong and Suki are also insured.
Do you bring both therapy dogs?
No. Alliance of Therapy Dogs only allows one therapy animal on a visit. Kong and Suki are selected based on the needs of the visit and the well-being of each dog.
Do your visits support classroom learning or mostly for students to just have fun?
Both! My visits are designed for students to learn through fun, so it doesn’t feel like a classroom lesson.
Learning connections may include: vocabulary, comprehension, sequencing, prediction, cause and effect, listening and speaking, observation, character development, and social-emotional competencies.
How long is each presentation?
Pre-K: approximately 30 minutes
Kindergarten: 45–60 minutes1st
1st–3rd Grade: 60–75 minutes
How many students can attend a presentation?
Presentations may be scheduled for one individual class or one entire grade level. When presenting to a grade level, classes are combined for one presentation rather than scheduled as separate presentations.
Can you do more than one presentation during a school visit? Yes.
Author visit only: One presentation to full day.
Author / therapy dog visit: Up to three presentations, with at least a 15-minute “doggie reset” between each.
Do you give supplemental learning resources?
Absolutely! Complimentary lesson plans will be emailed after the visit.
How far will you travel?
I visit schools throughout the metropolitan Phoenix area and will consider travel outside the area for an additional fee.
Bringing a therapy dog will depend on the travel requirements.
How do I book a visit?
Let's discuss and plan your classroom experience,. Email me.
How do I book a visit?
Start by completing the Author Visit Inquiry Form. Once your visit is scheduled, I'll follow up with you to work out the details.
Professional Testimonials
"We were very fortunate to have the Loving Literacy Authors group as part of our Dia de Los Ninos/Libros celebration at Galveston Elementary School. It was a joy to have Eileen Pieczonka and her two therapy dogs Kong and Suki join us for the presentations. Eileen shared important information to two Preschool classes at Galveston about therapy dogs and other animals. The students enjoyed her story that she read to them in the classroom. They got to meet Kong and learned all about him.
I highly recommend Eileen Pieczonka, Kong & Suki for an author visit with her group of Loving Literacy Authors for any school, library, or festival. She truly exemplifies the love of literacy!"
Joanne Doroz-Giezrak, Media Specialist
Galveston Elementary School
Christ Church School loved Eileen and Kong's visit so much! The students enjoyed listening to "Blueberry Bear" and the interaction they had with Kong. The teachers appreciated that Eileen's presentation reinforced reading skills including Cause & Effect and Sequencing. Several students stopped me in the hall asking if Kong would be in the library the next time they visited. We wouldn't hesitate to invite Eileen again to CCS and maybe next time, we can meet Suki!
Allison Coviello, Librarian
Christ Church School
Eileen Pieczonka's Blueberry Bear is a terrific book for readers of all ages to enjoy. I had the privilege of hosting Pieczonka at a book festival in Arizona where she was asked to read as part of the Young Reader's Fest.
Cymelle Edwards, Northern AZ BookFest Board Member