Sandra E. Stern

You have a long history of working with children - what made you want to write a kid's book?

I love children and I hate intolerance; I love animals and I hate indifference and abuse. I thought writing a book about an endangered animal would be the best way to convey a message of love, protection, and tolerance to our children. A book is a tangible object that a child can hold on to, and is therefore one of the best ways to get a message read and acted upon.

IF WE ARE TO CHANGE THE WORLD FOR THE BETTER, THEN WE MUST FIRST START WITH THE CHILDREN.

Is The Misadventures of Ori Tang your first book?

It's my first published book that has not been performed on stage or on television.

What is a Friendimal^TM?

A Friendimal^TM is an endangered or abused animal. The Friendimals^TM project is dedicated to educating children through stories and song and to stress the importance of protecting endangered and abused animals.

A human Friendimal^TM is simply someone who is a friend to animals.

What message are you trying to send to children?

I want children to realize the importance of their involvement in supporting the environment. Teaching children the significance of endangered species and the importance of those animals is crucial.

What is the most important lesson that you hope to teach?

If children (and adults, too) learn to love and respect animals, they will love and respect each other.

What is next for you? Do you have plans to write another book?

I am hoping to write a series of books on our Endangered Friends^TM. There are three or four books that I have already started: I'm currently working on a story about One-Fang Flossie, the little tiger. Other ideas in the works include a story about a Galapagos tortoise named Thomas, as well as a story about Precious, a panda bear. The list of endangered animals is endless and the Friendimals Concept is far-reaching.

There are also nonsense books I plan to publish. MR. BOTTS IS FULL OF DOTS is a silly story guaranteed to inspire young children to think - and guaranteed to make them smile.

What made you decide to work so hard to protect endangered animals? What are some of the ways you have learned about them?

I've always been passionate about protecting animals. I inherited a dog from my mentor, who assured me that animals were far nobler than human beings (she may be right). My travels, especially to Africa and the Galapagos islands, have inspired me to explore how I could make a difference.

Helping comes through learning, understanding, and fighting against abuse and intolerance.

What is the result that you wish to come out of this book and your message?

That more animals will be taken off the official endangered species list and that children (and especially adults) will learn to understand, protect, and care about animals - and each other.

How long have you been putting together this book?

The Friendimals concept first came to me fifteen years ago.

My idea for the book began ten years ago, and just this last year, I began putting it together for publication.