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Thirteen-year-old Hudson, recently diagnosed with inoperable canine cancer, is a model of resilience, positivity and grace in the face of sickness.

A month ago, when he was first diagnosed, he couldn’t stand up without help. But that didn’t stop him from meeting me when I came home. He crawled his way out of the kitchen–where he stakes out his food bowl–to the front door to greet me.

It didn’t stop him from jumping at the opportunity to go on two-mile walks on forest trails near our house.

Once we got him a Help ‘Em Up Harness, I could lift his hips, and away he ‘d go–stopping to visit with people who passed by and leaning into those he especially liked–a classic Golden Retriever move.

When a friend , Susan, and her dog came over to walk with us, I told Hudson, “Your friends are here.” This set off a frenzy of excitement. Hudson barked and begged to go outside, then hobbled out to greet them.

He didn’t hesistate to gobble down his food when I started adding new ingredients, like bone broth, to his meals.

Never grouchy, he welcomed grooming by our cat, Indigo, and when she stepped up her attention–as if realizing he needed extra kisses and love–he…well…tolerated it.

Here’s the good news. Since we began giving Hudson, GI Fortify, Turkey Tail mushrooms and Max’s Formula Teapills, all recommended by our holistic vet–he began to improve.

His fur isn’t falling out anymore. His deep bark is returning (although sometimes it’s still a croak) and his mobility has improved. While he still needs the Pull ‘Em Up Harness to get up the stairs at night and to walk down the stairs in the morning, he generally can get up and walk around by himself. It takes nearly an hour to trek two miles on our forest trails, with lots of ball-catching, treats and rests, but he’s always eager to hike, and hike some more.

And he’s wagging his tail more–when he greets strangers, when I come home or when it’s time to eat. He’s also gaining weight,

When a friend recently told me, “Hudson is so lucky to have you as his best friend,” I had to correct her.

No, I’m the lucky one.

Even when I’m helpong him up, hand-feeding him his meals (to help get his medicine down), or checking his breathing, he’s my cheerleader, my hiking companion, my anchor.

Even when I’m worrying about his panting, stumbles or energy level, Hudson makes me feel safe.

You can listen to Hudson bark in the last two of our four audiobooks. We’re releasing the fourth very soon, stay tuned!

Our third kids’ audiobook, Bash and Lucy Fetch Team Vera and the Dream Beasts, is read by co-authors Lisa Cohn and Lea Cohn (age 10 at the time) and four of Lea’s friends, age 9-13.

Also featured are the voices of Lea’s sister, Ally Cohn Merkel, and Ukrainian grandma Vera Moroz, who just celebrated her 84th birthday.

Listen to a sample:

Sensitive Bash gets grumpy and disruptive when his life is too bright, too loud, too smelly, or too busy. To help stay calm, he counts on his librarian sister, Ally, his friends, and especially his dog, Lucy.   But Lucy has become a local superstar because she’s a soccer coach who barks, wags, and kisses Bash’s team to victory. Now, all the kids want Lucy to coach their teams, especially Paula, Bash’s girl-power cousin.    Paula says her soccer team has the right to have Lucy coach her team because girls deserve the very best canine coaches under Title IX. How can Bash show he respects the girls’ rights while keeping dear Lucy by his side and on his team? 

The chapter book features dream beasts designed by Lea Cohn, age 9 at the time it was published. The book was featured in Voice of America in a widely shared article that focused on the character of Vera, based on an immigrant grandma from Ukraine in real life.

REVIEWS:
I’ve loved all of the Bash and Lucy books. But this one is my favorite. Great female characters in this book, including mayor-librarian-dancer Ally, whose smarts, talents, and kindness make her a great role model. I also really like the tough, loving and much admired Grandma Vera, the assistant mayor and coach of the most successful girls’ team in the state. Another female role model is Paula, who is intent on ensuring Title IX is enforced, and the girls get the best coach, even though that coach happens to be a dog named Lucy. This book is great fun to read, but I also couldn’t help but think about the way immigrants are maligned these days and how nice it was to see one championed in a Bash and Lucy book. Keep them coming please!

–Amazon review

My thoughts: Bash and Lucy Fetch Team Vera and the Dream Beasts teaches an important message candy wrapped with humor. Bash learns that under the Title IX law, girls have equal rights as boys when it comes to the best coaches and education. This is an early chapter book with expressive illustrations.

10-year-old Amanda’s thoughts: I liked that they loved dogs so much and let them be coaches. I think it’s cool that Ally is everywhere. Whenever you need her, she’s there. I like that the grandma is a coach and teaches the best girl team. I also like the grandma’s accent.

We received an ARC of this book. This is our honest and voluntary review.
–Posted on Amanda’s Books and More.

Great story! Well-written, entertaining, and hits on a lot of issues children deal with today- jealousy, anger, over-stimulation, etc. Very relatable for dog lovers too! Highly recommend for children of all ages.

–Amazon review

Find the full audiobook on Audible: Bash and Lucy Fetch Team Vera and the Dream Beasts

Questions? Email us at BashAndLucy@gmail.com

The audiobook for our award-winning book, Bash and Lucy Fetch Jealousy, features the voices of kids age 7-10 and co-author Lisa Cohn.

Listen to the audiobook sample:

Find the audiobook on Audible. To get a copy of the paperbook, email BashAndLucy@gmail.com. (We’re not sure why it costs $80 on Amazon!)

Bash and Lucy Fetch Jealousy, the second book and audiobook in the Bash and Lucy series, is a Mom’s Choice award winner.

In the book, Bash’s dog, Lucy, helps coach his soccer team, and Lucy leads the team to the championships. But Bash is overcome with jealousy when Lucy enchants a team of Special Olympics kids who say they want her to coach their team. Can Bash overcome his jealousy and learn to share Lucy with kids who say they need her?

Reviews:

This is a cute story with cute pictures, written for young children. It teaches about jealousy as well as integrating children with disabilities into the story. I think children would enjoy Bash & Lucy Fetch Jealousy, especially the way Lucy is depicted. I like how the authors got ideas for this story from classes in different elementary schools. (Authors’ note: We did Skype in the Classroom lessons with kids from all over the world, and asked them what to include in the book).

–Bound for Escape

This is the first Bash and Lucy book that we have read and we really enjoyed it. I loved the way Lisa Cohn made it easy to talk to my four year old about jealousy and different ways to handle the emotions that go with it. My daughter was astounded when I told her that a child helped write the book.
I found the book to be well written and inspiring, a story that can help my daughter overcome the negative feelings associated with jealousy.
We were asked to review this book and give our honest opinion.

–Dynal, Goodreads

Questions? Email us at BashAndLucy@gmail.com