About the Book
Jack loves a lot of things: his family, his toys, Halloween. But there are two things he loves a lot. Hockey and his donkey. When Jack has a hard time healing from a fall, he goes to the hospital and finds out that he has leukemia, a cancer of the blood. Though his family and his doctors are all there for him, Jack misses being able to visit the farm. That's when a donkey named Dinky Donkey Doo comes to stay at his house! Over three years, Jack battles cancer with Dinky right by his side, providing support and life-long memories to make the battle a little less scary each day.
Based on the author's son's own life, Dinky Donkey Doo will help young readers learn about cancer, hockey, and the positive impact of therapy animals for kids.
About the Author :
With thirty-plus years in K-12 education and management consulting, David Kavanaugh has learned that serving his clients is about communication and empathy. In fact, it's all about storytelling, whether by sharing a vision or illuminating someone's potential to executives and watching them thrive. Dave has come to realize that he's been a character himself in his family's greatest journey, one taken by many but not often shared: an odyssey of pediatric cancer. His beloved wife and two grown sons made the daily, harrowing Barents Sea crossing of physical, mental, and emotional challenges for several years. They are his greatest joy, the ones who laughed at his stories and encouraged him to put them to paper for his grandchildren to read someday. Inspiration and strength, he now knows, can come from the youngest and most vulnerable among us, and that no matter how short our time together, we are indelibly changed by those who enter our lives, even strangers who smile at us, or others who just take the time to listen. Dave's goal is to leave people a little better than he found them-a lesson he learned from an extraordinary young man and a wise donkey that we lovingly call Dinky Donkey Doo. Albert Arrayás is from Barcelona, Spain. He studied Fine Arts at the University of Barcelona, and he regularly collaborates with magazines and publishers all over Spain. He has illustrated over twenty-five children's book including A Thousand Hugs, Mahatma Gandhi, Om., and Where's the Moon.
Review :
"Dave Kavanaugh gives us a heartfelt rendition of he and his family's shared experience in the joy of childhood, the pain of learning your child has leukemia, and lessons on how to persevere, together. Dinky Donkey Doo helps all of us understand how to support our children in their toughest times of need, and with humor and humility. Whether you are seeking hope as you support your child through similar circumstances, or looking for a beautiful book about love, hope and resilience to share with your students, I strongly recommend Dinky Donkey Doo." --Jamie Candee, CEO, Edmentum "Kavanaugh's journey provides insight into charity within the world of hockey, healing through community, and the gift of realizing how precious and beautiful life is." --Kyle Quincey, Former NHL Ice Hockey Defensemen and Founder of the Team Ax Foundation
"This story has heart and inspiration. It was written with bravery from not only a parent's perspective but also Jack's, who experienced cancer at a very young age. It highlights the need and support that animals give to people and children who need the strength to keep going. I hope this book gives children around the world experiencing major illnesses the hope they need to survive. Thank you, Dinky and other support animals! As a cancer survivor myself, Dinky Donkey Doo speaks to my heart." --Sylvia Medina, Author and Creator of Green Kids Club, Inc.
"I absolutely love this book and all of the wonderful, heartfelt, and inspirational messages it contains about the incredible importance of deep emotional connections between animals and people - in this case, the amazing, compassionate and empathic Dinky Donkey Doo, and a young boy in need named Jack. The shared emotions they experienced and deeply felt were what I call a 'social glue' that easily crosses species boundaries. I will share this most important story widely - who would have imagined a donkey and a boy building such a strong, enduring bond?" --Marc Bekoff, Author of Kids & Animals, Rewilding Our Hearts: Building Pathways of Compassion and Coexistence and The Emotional Lives of Animals
"I love it when a story is directed towards the young but carries lessons for all ages. I suppose that defines a good book. And we have one here! David Kavanaugh has shared his family's experience regarding a traumatic cancer diagnosis and made it understandable, inspirational, and, impressively, even delightful. He effectively contrasts the unfamiliar and anxiety-inducing medical treatments and technology with the positives of community support, nature and the animals in our lives. He points out the incredible value and availability of support from the animal and human communities that surround us. Ultimately, Kavanaugh demonstrates how simple acts of human kindness and a positive interaction with an individual animal can have life-altering impacts. The inspirational and hopeful lesson herein is the power we hold within ourselves and how truly simple it is to share that strength with others. We are all part of a network of giving and receiving. I imagine parents and children sharing this story of compassion, inspiration, and hope." --Ken Sinay, Founder of Wildlife Touring Company Yellowstone Now!
"Children enduring the treatment of pediatric cancer bring parents, families, friends, community and medical professionals along on their journey. Every step of the way requires an immense amount of hope and reassurance. The importance of Dinky Donkey Doo is to illustrate the personification of that hope, reassurance, acceptance and love. Words are not enough for a frightened and confused child; seeing Dinky in action on the pages of this lovely book is what is needed to calm fears on the challenging journey toward being cancer-free." --Edie Burkey
