Monday, August 25, 2014

Duke 'n' Matt, Rescue Road Warriors - Author's Note

"Duke 'n' Matt,
Rescue Road Warriors"  

Duke 'n' Matt, 

Rescue Road Warriors

A note from the author



From the Author, Rhonda Paglia:  I am delighted to share this real-life story of Duke, Matt, and the Rescue Road Warriors.  Their story is not only important for kids, but also for adults and families who may have a pet, or who may be thinking about getting a pet.   

 Bringing a dog, cat, or other animal into one's home is a big responsibility.  It's like adding a new member to your family.  My hope is that this story will help kids and other readers learn about where their pets come from, and learn how important it is to make a conscious decision before getting a pet.  Even Duke, the red beagle, wants to make sure people REALLY want a pet before getting one, so he's added a section titled, “Duke’s Do’s and Don’ts!”  
Author Rhonda Paglia
and her dog, Bella

Duke 'n' Matt, Rescue Road Warriors is my first non-fiction story to be released to the public.  I learned so much about rescue dogs and the work of the Rescue Road Warriors while working on this story that I couldn’t keep my "teacher-hat" off.  So I’ve also I've tucked in some special pages for kids and teachers titled, "More to Learn and Fun Stuff to Do."  Kids will learn special Rescue Road Warrior vocabulary and definitions, use some mapping skills, complete some matching, and look back in the book to discover the answers to trivia and comprehension questions.  There is also an extra special, super-duper bonus from Duke that kids will have to find! 


I hope readers will learn as much as I did about the important work of the Rescue Road Warriors and the puppies and dogs they help get to new homes and safe places.  They are an amazing group of volunteers!

Appropriate for kids 5+
Reading level:  Grades 2 - 4
Kindle version now available for $3.99 :
A portion of all sales benefit the work of the Rescue Road Warriors

5-Star Book Reviews:

5-STAR Book Review by Rockin' Book Reviews

 5-STAR Review by Readers' Favorite

 More Reviews:
5-Stars - By Kristy L. Ritter  on August 7, 2014
Duke n' Matt: Rescue Road Warriors (Paperback)
There is nothing better than to read Duke 'n' Matt, Rescue Road Warriors and see the love and passion for transports as written by them and Rhonda!! The educational value for the kids is beyond what words could ever explain. Thank you to all of you for putting such a special mission/group of people out for the world to read. XOXO


By Ladydi on August 6, 2014
5-Stars
Format: Paperback
This book is fun, informative and is very nicely presented. It portrays an organization that I was unaware existed 
and demonstrates the need and love people have for their pets and "ORPHANED" animals. I love how the story is 
told from the dogs point of view and how the "Fun Stuff to do" helps the young people to remember and enjoy what 
they just read. I highly recommend this book!!!

By Katie Nurmi on August 6, 2014
5-Stars
Format: Paperback
Heartfelt, beautiful, educational and real!!!!! I can't wait to use this with younger Girl Scouts who are learning about 
responsible pet ownership and with children at church learning about stewardship of creation!!!



Grammy Pags with her 5 grandchildren,
featured author at the local library.
Rhonda Paglia is a children's author, a retired 
elementary teacher, and a "not so retired" grandmother 
from Pennsylvania. "Grammy Pags," as she is called, is 
the author of 5 published children's books.  "Duke n' 
Matt ~ Rescue Road Warriors," is Rhonda Paglia 
"Grammy Pags" fifth children’s book and is currently 
available from Amazon - soft cover and Kindle. 
Duke 'n' Matt, Rescue Road Warriors

Other books by Rhonda Paglia: 

"The Little Lambs and the Very Special Mission" was
her first children's book to be released to the public. The 
story came to her during her prayers for the children, 
teachers, and families after the tragedy at Sandy Hook.  
This gentle, sweet story is dedicated to the children and 
teachers of Sandy Hook Elementary School and offers 
the hope that the world will become a better place.  All 
the profits from the sale of this book go to the "Angels 
in Charge" Scholarship Award for students graduating 
from Newtown High School who meet the requirements and are planning a career in education. 
The Little Lambs book was co-illustrated by 14-year-old, Taylor Galaska and Rhonda Paglia.
The Little Lambs and the Very Special Mission

"Doonsey's Beach Adventure, the Great Rescue" and "Doonsey's Beach Adventure, the 
Great Rescue, Coloring and Activity Book":  Doonsey is a little ocean crab that loves to 
explore.  His quiet exploring day becomes a great rescue day in the fun adventure about a 
beach crab with a big heart. Illustrations by Rhonda Paglia.  Doonsey's Beach Adventure books

"Three Little Gnomes and a Boy Named Orion," is available in both soft cover and for Kindle.
Three little gnomes live, work, and play in Grammy's garden.  One day they discover they have a 
big problem. They ask for help, and end up making a new friend.  Three Little Gnomes was
beautifully illustrated by Ratna Kusuma Halim from Indonesia.  
Three Little Gnomes and a Boy Named Orion












Posted by at No comments:

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Rescue Road Warriors in news!


Check it out! Rescue Road Warriors in the News - Bloomburg! 

NEW!  Children's story - "Duke 'n' Matt, Rescue Road Warriors"

Nonfiction: for kids & families - LOVE pets?  

Want to rescue a dog? Prefer to adopt-a-pet?  This book is for you!!

Duke 'n' Matt Softcover book - Amazon

Duke 'n' Matt - for Kindle - Kindle Match is $2.99

Duke 'n' Matt - book from CreateSpace - USE THIS DISCOUNT CODE: DJ4NYYKM


Rescue dog, Duke, tells
his story about his
adoption, and what it's
like to be a Rescue
Road Warrior!

 Rescuers relay dogs 

to safety

By Leon Bogdan - Press Enterprise Writer

Published: August 20, 2014


BUCKHORN — An animal-rescue network that frees dogs from puppy mills and “high-kill” shelters made a pit stop here last weekend while shuttling dozens of canines to better homes.



In all, 63 dogs of all breeds, shapes and sizes were transferred from one caravan of vehicles to another during a brief layover off Interstate 80.

The pets were rescued from mills in Missouri and from Southern states that have few laws in place to protect animals and regulate shelters, advocates say.

“Missouri is the puppy mill capital of the country,” said Keven Creegan, 45, of East Stroudsburg. He and wife Janet picked up a carload of dogs here for the next leg of a transfer trip to foster homes and shelters in New York and New England.

The group — known as the Rescue Road Warriors — has found help north of the border as well. One older hound had a family waiting in Canada.

“We’ve driven in snowstorms with dogs. Through tornado warnings. All kinds of weather,” Janet Creegan said.

“We love dogs. We have seven of our own back home,” her husband added.

The vehicles taking part in the transfer met in a large lot behind Cracker Barrel restaurant.

8,000 saved

The Road Warriors group is a nonprofit founded in St. Louis about five years ago by Kerin Hanson, a no-kill advocate who uses social media like Facebook to coordinate logistics for rescues nationwide.

Hundreds of volunteer drivers have transported roughly 8,000 dogs and cats to designated safe locations since the organization was founded.

For drivers like Ashley Hargraves of Bloomsburg and Helena Maciejewski of Berwick, their work with the Animal Resource Center in Bloomsburg led them to volunteer as shuttle drivers three times so far. They learned of the effort through Facebook.

“We love animals. And these dogs are going to good homes,” said Hargraves, who has no dogs of her own due to rental restrictions. However, her husband is eager to find a new home where they can have pets.

60-to-75-mile legs

She and Maciejewski, her future sister-in-law, transported five dogs from Milesburg to Buckhorn during the recent transport.

On arriving in Buckhorn, about a dozen more vehicles from the Stroudsburg area were waiting to take the dogs to the New York border. Some of the pets were headed even farther north, to Connecticut and Maine.

“Every dog is designated to a rescue shelter or foster home, so even if you like one of the dogs in need of transport you wouldn’t be able to keep it,” Hargraves noted.

The drivers all work with a “run list” that sets times and destinations along with specifics on which dogs will be transported in which vehicle.  Volunteers drive an average of 60 to 75 miles.

Most have cages to transport the dogs, but Hargraves and Maciejewski set blankets down.

Anyone interested in volunteering or animal adoption can visit www. rescueroadwarriors.org or email dawgcr8@gmail.com.

From author, Rhonda Paglia



Author Rhonda Paglia
and her dog, Bella [who is not
a puppy mill dog.]
"Duke 'n' Matt, Rescue Road Warrior" is a REAL-LIFE story kids are going to love!  Kids will learn about rescue dogs, what it's like to be a Rescue Road Warrior, and how these modern-day heroes help dogs in need get to their new adoptive homes and safe shelters.  This book has special learning pages, key vocabulary words and definitions, a map page, and questions for kids to answer. 

For kids 3+, reading level grades 2 - 4.  For more information and updates, check out:  Grammy Pags Stories.  "Duke n' Matt ~ Rescue Road Warriors," is Rhonda Paglia "Grammy Pags" fifth children’s book and is curently available from Amazon - soft cover and Kindle. 

Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)