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Dog tale teaches students life lessons
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Sandra Philips, (left) childrens' book author, poses her dog,(from left to right), Ollie, Tak and her illustrator, Jenny Campbell just moments before they spoke to Union Elementary School students May 17.
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Neighbors | Eartha Terrell.Jenny Campbell , childrens' book illustator, teaches Union Elementary School students a lesson on how to draw cartoon characters May 17.
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Sandra Phillips (left) and Jenny Campbell talk to Union Elementary School students about phillips' dogs who are the main characters of her childrens' book during her visit May 17.
By EARTHA TERRELL
The tales of author Sandra Phillips and her pet dogs, Ollie and Tak, kept students at Union Elementary School fully entertained during her visit to the school May 17.
Sandra Phillips, who is an author of more than eight children’s books, came to visit Union Elementary School where she kept students entertained while teaching them life lessons that they’ll remember for years to come.
“Each one [story] has their own individual message,” Phillips said.
Students learned the importance of staying positive through difficult situations through her story titled “Annie Loses Her Leg, but Finds Her Way,” which is a true story based upon one of her dogs, Annie, who had her leg removed due to cancer.
“Annie’s book is about ‘even if we lose something in our lives, let’s concentrate on the things we can still do,’” Phillips said.
Union principal Mike Masucci hoped the event would help his students learn the importance of being able to communicate well.
“I think they gain a better understanding that while they all may not grow up to be authors and illustrators they all have to grow up to effectively communicate,” Masucci said.
Phillips’ illustrator Jenny Campbell also was in attendance and even taught students how to draw cartoon characters.
Phillips brought in her own pets Tak and Ollie who stole the show. Masucci said having the pets in the school resonates with his students.
“Having the opportunity to have two dogs in the building and then have the connection with their characters in these books really hits home with our kids,” Masucci said.