Piki Goes to College by Joan M. Hellquist
A mom with her small child came near to us and the child said, “Mommy, doggies!”
The mom quietly said, “We must not bother them, those dogs are going to college.”
I thought, “Wow, college, I’m going to college? That must be what you have to do to be a Service Dog.”
If there’s one thing kids love, it’s animals. From collecting stuffed toys of their favorite species to shouting “doggie!”, it seems they just can’t get enough. But how do you teach your child that not all dogs are supposed to be pet? How do you explain that the vest the dog is wearing means they have an important job to do?
In Piki Goes to College (Bear Foot Printing), author-illustrator Joan M. Hellquist gives an inside look at what it means to be a service dog. Through Piki’s own eyes, children learn about the important role service dogs play in society and the hard work that goes into training them.
From Humble Beginnings to College Grad
How do you teach kids what it’s like to be a service dog? You ask the dog, of course! And Piki the service dog is happy to explain.
The way she tells it, she meets her “forever friend and person, Joan,” while Piki is in jail — aka the animal shelter in New Mexico. Once adopted, Piki goes to her new home and begins to learn a ton of rules. As Piki progresses, Joan starts training to be some sort of instructor, and Piki learns that she’ll be a “special dog,” which she soon discovers the meaning of!
Piki’s training evolves from simple commands like “sit” and “stay” to more complex challenges like staying calm in crowds and busy stores. It takes a couple of tries, but Piki soon “[earns] her vest,” an important marker of her new role as a “special dog” in college. And while Piki isn’t the easiest student, with hard work she eventually passes all her classes.
Hard at Work
Piki Goes to College is a comprehensive guide for all children who have asked, “Why does that dog have a vest?” This informative read teaches everything about what it takes both to have a service dog and to be a service dog. Hellquist covers where these canines can and cannot go in public places, and some tasks that owners may need their dogs to complete. The book also reminds readers not to pet, talk to or distract a service dog while they’re at work — they’ve got a job to do!
Along with its purpose of educating readers about service dogs, Piki Goes to College also emphasizes the importance of dedicating oneself to learning, even when you don’t at first succeed. It takes Piki a few tries to get a hang of being a service dog; there is a lot she struggles with, from distractions to staying still. But Piki doesn’t give up, and by applying herself to the challenge, she is able to rise above and achieve her goals.
Piki also assures readers that being a service dog isn’t all work and no play. Once her vest comes off, Piki is happy to run around the yard playing ball. But when she’s on the job, Piki is driven and happy to do her duty as a service dog. Armed with the lessons from Piki Goes to College, kids can feel enriched by the knowledge that, by leaving service dogs be, they’re doing their own part in letting these dogs do their jobs.
About Joan M. Hellquist:
Joan M. Hellquist was born in Summit, NJ and left to attend The University of New Hampshire. She’s lived in many states, got two more college diplomas and worked in healthcare while continuing her artwork. She loves to travel both domestically and in other countries.
The two constants in her life have been her love for children and animals. She believes children and animals are kindred spirits. They are innocent, without baggage, full of unconditional love and always tell you the truth. She doesn’t have any children of her own but has worked with many children in healthcare, mostly as a Bereavement Facilitator at the NM Children’s Grief Center.
She’s always been a dog lover and enjoys writing about her adventures with her service dog Piki. Piki Goes to College is the story of her training to become a service dog. The second Piki book has just come out, Piki Goes Flying. There will be one more book in the Piki series.
