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Kizzie Jones Media Kit
Short Bio
Kizzie Jones is a dachshund lover and features the dogs in her award-winning children’s book series, TALL TALES. The third book in the series, A Tall Tale about Dachshunds in Costumes: How MORE Dogs Came to Be, won her most recent book prize, First in Category Award, Little Peeps Book Awards from Chanticleer Reviews in September 2020.
Using whimsy to plant seeds of compassion, kindness, and inclusivity in the hearts of children and adults alike, Kizzie charms young readers via accurate descriptions of dogs and oceanside life, enhanced with stunning illustrations by Bellingham artist, Scott Ward.
Kizzie is a contributing author to the 2019 anthology, Writing In Place: Prose and Poetry from the Pacific Northwest. Her longtime writers group, The Edmonds Writing Sisters, chose their best pieces to include in the book.
Medium Bio
Kizzie Jones is a dachshund lover and features the dogs in her award-winning children’s book series, TALL TALES. The third book in the series, A Tall Tale about Dachshunds in Costumes: How MORE Dogs Came to Be, won her most recent book prize, First in Category Award, Little Peeps Book Awards, from Chanticleer Reviews in September 2020.
Using whimsy to plant seeds of compassion, kindness, and inclusivity in the hearts of children and adults alike, Kizzie charms young readers via accurate descriptions of dogs and oceanside life, enhanced with stunning illustrations by Bellingham artist, Scott Ward.
Kizzie is a contributing author to the 2019 anthology, Writing In Place: Prose and Poetry from the Pacific Northwest. Her longtime writers group, The Edmonds Writing Sisters, chose their best pieces to include in the book.
A dachshund lover, Kizzie is owned by three long-haired dachshunds, models for the dynamic dogs in her children’s stories. Her TALL TALES series consists of three books, How Dachshunds Came to Be: A Tall Tale about a Short Long Dog, A Tall Tale about a Dachshund and a Pelican: How a Friendship Came to Be, and A Tall Tale about Dachshunds in Costumes: How MORE Dogs Came to Be, which won First in Category, Little Peeps Book Awards from Chanticleer Reviews in September 2020.
Book Two has a coloring book and books 1 and 2 are published in bilingual editions (Spanish, German, French) in tête-bêche format, flip-over two-books-in-one. All the books are also Kindle editions in English, Spanish, German, and French.
Kizzie regularly blogs about her books and her life, under the umbrella theme of kindness, and is active in community book and dachshund events.
She is also active in the EPIC Group Writers local organization, does a yearly reading tour with her children's books in schools in Los Cabos, Mexico, and gives readings in local libraries and schools.
Author Social Media Connections
Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Amazon Author Page Goodreads Author Page
Pacific Northwest Conference news article published September 2017: Kizzie Jones' two books are translated into Spanish is here.
New Children's Book Draws A Crowd of Hundreds at Edmonds, Washington Launch
An Interview with Kizzie about the anthology she published in July 2019 with her writing/critique group, The Edmonds Writing Sisters, Writing In Place is here.
The Edmonds Beacon article in the July 25, 2019 edition, about The Edmonds Writing Sisters and Writing in Place, is here.
Suggested Interview Questions for the Tall Tales Series
1. Why are you so interested in telling stories of dachshunds in particular?
2. It seems adults find your books comforting – why?
3. Why is there a strong theme of kindness and acceptance of diversity and compassion in all your books?
4. Why have you published your books in bilingual editions – Spanish, German, and French?
5. Has your coloring book been a popular activity for children?
6. What got you started writing these dachshund children’s books?
7. What has been the hardest part of publishing all the editions of these books?
8. Why did you call your series TALL TALES?
9. Tell us a bit about your newest book—the third in the TALL TALES series.
10. Where have you traveled to distribute your books?
11. What is the appeal of writing children’s books for you?
12. You have a lot of sea creatures in your books—are they accurate or fanciful?
Suggested Interview Topics
Why dachshunds?
Why children’s books?
Why the themes of compassion, kindness, and honoring diversity?
Why bilingual editions?
Why publish an anthology including your work and that of your writing group?
What have you learned from publishing all these books?
Excerpts
Writing In Place: Prose and Poetry from the Pacific Northwest, 2019.
from "The Two Kizzies" by Kizzie Jones
It was then I understood the change in [the Music Therapist] Arlen’s expression, as he replied, “Her name is Kizzie!” I smiled and said I loved dogs and from my point of view, she couldn’t have a nicer name. Arlen continued to seem uncomfortable. He explained further, “Her name is really Elizabeth, but I wanted a strong ‘Husky’ name, beginning with the letter ‘K.’ I liked the name Kizzie, but I have to call her Kizzie Elizabeth, so that she will respond to her new name.” Amused, I said, “Arlen, my name is Kizzie Elizabeth!”
I knew it was a sign that either I should turn and run or that I’d be perfect for the job. I did get the position, but such a coincidence is not without its unique consequences. The running joke became, “We have a Kizzie that barks and one that prays. Which are you?” I would reply, “Depends on the time of day!”
How Dachshunds Came To Be: A Tall Tale About a Short Long Dog Written by Kizzie Elizabeth Jones and Illustrated by Scott Ward (2012)
One evening as the whales planned their migration north, they noticed the little girl was crying. They said, “You look sad. What’s wrong?” “Oh dearest whales, you are my favorite friends. Yet, when you go out to sea, I go home alone. I long for friends who can stay. I don’t think you can help me, but thank you for caring.” And she blew them a kiss goodnight.
…
Soon the sea creatures realized no single one of them would be the right companion. So, they asked themselves, “What if we could create a completely new creature, who mirrored our special qualities?”
A Tall Tale about a Dachshund and a Pelican: How a Friendship Came to Be Written by Kizzie Elizabeth Jones and Illustrated by Scott Ward (2016)
Sadly, Goldie looked away. “We are not the same after all,” she said. I thought if we were alike, we could be friends. Maybe I should go.”
“Please stay. We can like each other without being alike. We just need to get to know each other better.
…
“Oh, I get it!” said Goldie. “Yes, the little girl and I are different, too. Yet we are very good friends.”
… And that is how a friendship between a dachshund and a pelican came to be.
A Tall Tale About Dachshunds in Costumes: How MORE Dogs Came to Be Written by Kizzie Jones and Illustrated by Scott Ward (2019)
At home, the dogs asked
the kind girl what she thought,
"If we stay in our costumes,
would you be distraught?"
…
'Twas the wisdom she heard
from the dogs at the start--
That no matter their color,
their shape, or their size,
it is love that resides
in each creature's heart!
Special Effects (illustrations below)
The text of the books often includes color and fanciful type-play.
The bilingual books are in “tête-bêche” format, that is, they flip upside down, front to back.
Praise for Kizzie Jones’ Tall Tales series
… where some books might just ask children to look past differences, Jones encourages them to also see differences as a benefit.
Georgia Ball, review of A Tall Tale about a Dachshund and a Pelican: How a friendship came to be
A Tall Tale About a Dachshund and a Pelican: How a Friendship Came to Be, written … is a simple story about making friends regardless of differences and celebrating diversity. Anna-Celestrya Carr
A Tall Tale About a Dachshund and a Pelican: How a Friendship Came to Be … shows children that they should celebrate their differences, just like Goldie and the pelican. It also teaches that just because you may be different, it doesn't mean you can't be friends. The book also teaches young readers about dachshunds and pelicans. Kristen Van Kampen
While telling a delightful story, [Kizzie Jones] weaves in the practice of leaving living creatures in their natural habitat ... Kizzie gives voices to sea creatures rarely heard from ... Laura Firth Markley, Beach Naturalist & Interpretive Exhibit /Researcher, Park Ranger
As a family counselor, I have often looked for helpful ways for parents to pass along values such as compassion to their young children … Reading this book aloud to youngsters would open an easy path to such a lesson of love." Ellin Snow, MSW Clinical Social Worker
As an Early Childhood teacher with over 30 years of experience, I know that this story would be perfect for initiating meaningful discussions and exploring "what if" questions. The words in bold print would provide a basis for animal and marine science, health, art, or language arts lessons. Marianne Stewart, Retired Early Childhood Educator
The text of the books often includes color and fanciful type-play.
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The bilingual books are in “tête-bêche” format, that is, they flip upside down, front to back.
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