MANA's National Reading Month Special: Excerpts From The Children's Book, "Charlie: The Dog Who Lived The Dream" by Charmaine Stangl

In celebration of National Reading Month, MarketingNewAuthors.com (MANA) presents excerpts from the children's book, Charlie, The Dog Who Lived The Dream, by Charmaine Stangl, which is available on MANA's website. 

Listen to the audio below and follow along with MANA's Dr. Fairy-Hayes Scott as she does an interpretive reading of the first few pages of the book: 

Once not long ago, there was a man named Jake. He had a dog named Charlie who was truly his best friend. That is, if a best friend is someone who listens carefully when you have something to say, does everything you love to do with great enthusiasm, and would rather simply be with you than anything else in the world. Certainly, Charlie fits this description precisely.

Charlie loved to take long walks in the woods with Jake. He loved to feel the wind cooling his face and ruffling his fur. He loved to smell the scent of other animals in the woods. He loved to sit by the fire and just enjoy the peace and quiet. But most of all, much more even than all these wonderful things, he loved the sound of Jake’s voice when he said “Good boy, Charlie,” and the feel of Jake’s hand on his shoulder.

Once in a while, Jake went away for what seemed to Charlie like a very long time. Charlie always knew, though, that when the light through the window began to fade and the cozy house became a little cooler, he would soon hear Jake coming in through the door and then he would hear his favorite words, “Good boy, Charlie!”

But one very sad day, it didn’t happen quite like this. Someone came in the door as the light was fading and the someone talked to Charlie… fixed his dinner… and even played ball with him. But it didn’t feel the same as being with Jake. 

The next day and the next were the same. Charlie was happy to see the boy come in the door each evening. But as the next day neared its end, Charlie became worried about Jake. “What if Jake needs help,” Charlie thought. “What if he is lost?”

He ran for a long time. Then, he walked for a long time. Sometimes, he thought he smelled Jake’s scent and that kept him going, even when he got very tired and very hungry. He found himself on a busy sidewalk with people hurrying by him. No one noticed the man sitting on the sidewalk except Charlie.

“Here boy,” said the man, “you look like you could use a bite or two.” 

He has a kind voice,” thought Charlie, “and the food smells great.”

The man gave Charlie a few bites of his sandwich. Charlie settled down beside him against the wall, enjoying the heat from the bricks warmed by the day’s sun.

Some people began to pause and say a few friendly words to Charlie and the man. The friendly words made Charlie feel less lonely and seemed to make the man feel better too.

Charlie felt so much better. In fact, he soon fell asleep and dreamed of Jake. When Charlie slept, even in that little bit of time, just as he was drifting into sleep, he could see and hear Jake as clearly as if his friend were right there with him.

Charlie saw many wonderful pictures in his dreams and felt many happy feelings. He saw himself walking on his favorite path in the woods with Jake. He felt the wind cooling his face and ruffling his fur. He saw himself lying by the fire watching Jake read.

But by far, the best thing that happened every night in his dream was the moment when Jake patted his shoulder and said, “Good boy, Charlie.”

To learn more about Charlie,The Dog Who Lived The Dream (such as what happened to Jake) go HERE to MANA's website.