Check Out My Newest Guest Post From Author Jill Rosen Plus Learn About Her Newest Book ‘Ode to a Pug: THAT CAT!’ PLUS A Giveaway! #OdeToAPug
This post is sponsored by Jill Rosen.. The review and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal views.
How Pets Help Children Develop Empathy: Insights from “Ode to a Pug (THAT CAT!)”
You ever have a really bad day? Like one of those days where you just want to come home, turn down the lights, eat ice cream and put on some Adele? And just when you’re thoroughly weepy, your dog comes over, nudges you, and stands there, tail wagging… as if to say, “I got you. Just pet me and it will all be better.” We’ve all been there, amiright? Pets have an amazing capacity for empathy and children can learn so much from them. Specifically, caring for pets helps with the following three key empathy building blocks:
*Recognizing emotions
*Relating to emotions
*Responding to emotions
Recognizing Emotions
Animals offer a safe space to explore and discuss emotions. We don’t judge our pets for how they feel, because they can’t help it. A dog hears thunder, and it starts to shake. A cat is cornered, it puffs up and hisses. A parakeet hears Sharknado on the tv and it flaps and squawks. They don’t need words to describe what they are feeling – you can see it. Talking about our pets’ feelings is much easier than talking about our own, or even those of our family and friends, and a heuristic way to start learning about different emotions.
A Picture’s Worth a Thousand Words…
In order to understand and build empathy, children first need to be able to recognize emotions. In Ode to a Pug: THAT CAT! it was important for us to show the range of emotions experienced when a new “sibling” enters the picture (excitement, jealousy, frustration, sadness, joy, love). Pugs are very expressive… some would even say they are the clowns of the canine world! They are the perfect avatar to help our young ones learn emotions. Even if a child can’t read the words yet, he or she can ‘see’ what the pug is feeling in the fun illustrations (by its facial expressions, body positionings, etc.).
This allows for discussion about what the child thinks the pug may be feeling in the context of the story, and an excellent way to learn about how to recognize and describe different emotions.
Relating to Emotions
You Look Familiar…
It’s often joked that we look like our pets. I guess it’s not surprising that I’m all of 5 feet tall and own a pug! When thinking about empathy, another truth is that we often feel like our pets too. Emotions are infectious. Our pets instinctively sense and feed off of what we are feeling. When a child sees their pet shaking and pacing, even if the child doesn’t recognize that they might be feeling anxious, they relate to what their pet is feeling. The child naturally wonders why is my dog feeling this way? The beauty of pets not being able to speak is that we are forced to try and understand things from their perspective. We can’t just ask what’s wrong. 
Who would’ve thought that a shaking chihuahua or a head tilting pug was the key to empathy! Without even knowing it, children can learn to read other people’s emotions simply by loving and caring for a furry friend.
Responding to Emotions
You’re Never Alone, And Not Just Because Your Pug is a Velcro Dog…
There is comfort knowing you are not alone in your feelings. If it’s ok for your dog to be scared, it’s ok that you are scared too. Although it’s not ok to yell at the mailman like a pugnacious pooch is prone to do, it is ok to be happy when your parents come home and do a little dance at the doorway! When children know there are no ‘wrong’ or ‘bad’ feelings – that emotions are spontaneous reactions (i.e., they just happen) – this creates the room for relating rather than judging. And once we have understanding, we instinctively have empathy and a desire to help. This natural human desire creates the opportunity for a child to demonstrate empathy to an animal in distress and learn its value. The puppy feels better after a big hug or the distraction of a yummy treat for a trick (in the case of pugs), and the child feels better because their pet feels better. A wonderful cycle of positive reinforcement is created.
And this goes for the whole family! When a child watches a parent allow the shaking dog to jump into their bed during a thunderstorm, and they happily pet it as it falls asleep, they learn that it is ok to show emotion. Seeing another family member being treated with empathy for being themselves can give a child confidence to be themselves too – no matter how they are feeling.
I’m sure nature had empathy in mind when it created the dog lick!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Written by Jill Rosen
Illustrated by Stephanie Rohr
Ages: 3-6 | 22 Pages
Publisher: Pug House Books (2025) | ISBN: 978-1-0692261-1-2
Publisher’s Book Summary: From the author of the award-winning Ode to a Pug comes Ode to a Pug: THAT CAT! – the first in a series of amusing, adorably illustrated stories starring the gassy little pug that started it all.
Hilarious pug Phoebe is back, but she is not alone. See what happens when an unexpected new member enters the household.
Follow the silly antics as our number one velcro dog wrestles with sharing the spotlight. Of course, with its classic curly tail and squishy face, only a pug can pull off being both naughty and irresistible.
Double the chaos. Double the fun. Another laugh-out-loud, read-aloud story perfect for children ages 2-8 and dog (and cat!) lovers of all ages.
PURCHASE LINK
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Award-winning, bestselling author Jill Rosen is a career marketer and advertiser who lives with two kids, three dogs, two cats, one bird, and a former stand-up comic and Princeton sketch-comedy writing husband. She does not need to go far for comedic inspiration or advice!
Through her brand management work, Jill’s early recognition of and appreciation for powerful writing and artistic design only flourished. She is a seasoned workshop facilitator and strategic healthcare consultant, specializing in the areas of mental health and infertility.
Jill was inspired to begin writing her own stories by her two boys, who are both avid readers. Now, Jill can’t wait to share them with all the young readers out there!
https://www.instagram.com/odetoapug/
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
Steph Rohr is a French Award-winning children’s book illustrator who earned a distinction from ECV Art School in Paris. She is fond of anything silly, funny, wacky, daft, and colourful. As a freelance illustrator and art director, Steph has been working in publishing and advertising in London.
https://www.instagram.com/stephdoespictures/
TOUR SCHEDULE
Monday, April 28, 2025
Book Review of Ode to a Pug: THAT CAT!
Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Book Review of Ode to a Pug: THAT CAT!
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
Book Review of Ode to a Pug: THAT CAT!
Thursday, May 1, 2025
Guest Post about Ode to a Pug: THAT CAT!
Friday, May 2, 2025
Book Review of Ode to a Pug: THAT CAT!
Monday, May 5, 2025
Book Spotlight on Ode to a Pug: THAT CAT!
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Book Spotlight on Ode to a Pug: THAT CAT!
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Book Review of Ode to a Pug: THAT CAT!
Thursday, May 8, 2025
Book Review of Ode to a Pug: THAT CAT!
Friday, May 9, 2025
Guest Post about Ode to a Pug: THAT CAT!
Monday, May 12, 2025
Guest Post about Ode to a Pug: THAT CAT!
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Book Review of Ode to a Pug: THAT CAT!
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Author Interview with Jill Rosen
Thursday, May 15, 2025
Book Review of Ode to a Pug: THAT CAT!
Friday, May 16, 2025
Book Activity for Ode to a Pug: THAT CAT!
NOW TO THE GIVEAWAY!
Enter for a chance to win one of twelve signed hardcover copies of Ode to a Pug: THAT CAT!. In addition, one lucky winner will receive a custom 4″ pug plush and a die-cut pug sticker.
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