I’ve been invited to visit a number of day care centers to share my story of CHARLIE and to help them discover the world of writing and illustrating.  Last week, I spent the morning with children from Cross Road Kindergarten in Dover, NH.   About 40 children gathered, wide eyed as I told the story of a little dog whose three foot tail kept getting him in trouble.  So, he decided to run away from home.  What is so interesting is to watch the faces of these little children as I turn each poster size illustration.  The reactions, the feelings that are expressed…especially when I’m acting out the part where the little old lady is yelling at the “dirty old dog” to get off the bench.  Gosh, they are truly amazing little people…their hearts are so empathetic at this age.  And, then…the harsh reality sets in as they grow up and enter the real world.  Too bad we couldn’t find a way to create “empathy and innocence” in the form of a pill!