“Soon Stacey fell asleep in her crib and Bernita went into the living room. Because the doctor had said Stacey was fine, Bernita could relax. She sat down to rest. She wasn’t surprised when Midnight came into the living room. Midnight was a “people cat” and always stayed close to her, Roy or Stacey. Bernita figured Midnight would settle down and rest a little, too.
She was wrong. The cat meowed loudly and batted at Bernita’s legs. She told him to behave and let her relax. But Midnight kept pestering Bernita. She shooed him away. The Black cat ran from the living room. Suddenly, she heard an eerie moaning sound. It was coming over the baby monitor!
Bernita ran to the nursery.
…Midnight was standing on the dresser howling into the monitor. She looked at her baby in the crib. Stacey’s skin was turning blue. She was gasping for air. Stacey couldn’t breathe. If she couldn’t breathe, she would die.”
-- “A Cry for Help” From TEN TRUE ANIMAL RESCUES
The story of Midnight, the cat, is one of the ten exciting stories told by Jeanne Betancourt in TEN TRUE ANIMAL RESCUES. Jeanne Betancourt has written over 60 books. Several of her novels for young readers have won Children’s Choice Awards. She has written many after-school specials for television and has received six Emmy Award nominations. Children know her best for her popular Pony Pals Series.
1. How did your childhood influence the books you have written?
I grew up in a small Vermont town across the street from a farm. I loved animals and wanted a pet desperately, but my parents wouldn’t let me have one. I was also a kid who loved to be outside, especially when I could be walking in the woods or riding my bike. Having pets and loving nature – are key ideas in TEN TRUE ANIMAL RESCUES and in my Pony Pals Series.
2. What inspired you to write the very popular TEN TRUE ANIMAL RESCUES
and the Pony Pals Series?
TEN TRUE ANIMAL RESCUES:
I was inspired to write TEN TRUE ANIMAL RESCUES stories by a magazine article I read about animals that rescued people. I wanted kids to have a chance to read about animal heroes, too. So I started researching the animal heroes and put together my favorites for the book. I had great fun writing this book. It was especially interesting when I got to interview some of the people who were rescued by their pets. I wish I could have met some of the animals, too.
Pony Pals:
As a kid I spent a lot of time on my neighbors’ farm. I loved the big animals and wished I could ride the horses. But they were mostly for farm work and the farmers were much too busy farming to teach me how to ride. One girl I knew had her own horse. I got to sit on that horse a couple of times. I never really rode him. I so much wanted a horse, too. (That particular horse used to get loose and eat the corn in my family’s little vegetable garden.) As a child I got to take riding lessons one summer at camp and loved it. The idea of writing stories about three girls who are friends and have ponies was very appealing to me. I set the stories in a small town like the one where I grew up. I made sure that my main characters – Pam, Anna, and Lulu - were strong, smart, independent, kind, and fun loving. They are the kinds of girls I would have liked for friends. Their ponies - Lightning, Acorn, and Snow White – are important characters to the stories, and just the kind of animals you would love.
3. Besides the possibility of being rescued by your pet, how do think
children benefit from owning a pet?
Everyone benefits from owning a pet – children and adults. Pets can be playmates and helpmates. Some pets provide invaluable service – like leading the blind. Some – like ponies and horses - provide transportation. Others – like cats, dogs, hamsters, guinea pigs, and fish – are great company. If you pay close attention to animals, you can learn other ways of communicating with them besides using our people language.
4. Therapeutic horseback riding has proven to be very beneficial to the
physically, mentally and emotionally disabled. You have written 42
books in the Pony Pals series. Have any of the books included a theme on
therapeutic horseback riding?
I’ve written two Pony Pals books that included therapeutic horseback riding. In both cases the character has cerebral palsy. Pony Pals #32: HE’S MY PONY is the more recent of the two books. In Pony Pals #15: THE BLIND PONY, the story is about a pony who is going blind and the owner who is trying to keep her pony’s blindness a secret.
5. Anna, one of the "Pony Pals" is dyslexic. "My Name is Brain Brian"
is based on your experience with dyslexia. How did you overcome your
struggle with dyslexia to become such a prolific writer?
I did not grow up thinking, “I want to be a writer.” Because of my dyslexia, reading and writing did not come easily to me. In fact I was a teacher for many years before I even tried to write a story. But I’ve always loved stories and have a vivid imagination. Once I started to make up stories and write them down, I discovered I could do it pretty well. I’ve been writing books and scripts for over twenty years now. I am still a slow reader and a lousy speller. I love spell check! Writing directly onto the computer is also helpful for me. It is much easier for me to type than to write in long hand. You don’t have to be a good speller to be a good writer. Some teachers might not agree with me, but I bet they’re not dyslexic!
6. What suggestions can you offer children on helping animals in their
community?
- Help a neighbor with their pets.
- Volunteer at your local animal shelter.
- Contact your local animal shelter if you think you’ve seen a stray or hurt animal.
- Have a birdfeeder.
- Show others how to respect animals by your good example.
Your family will love reading any one of the short stories in TEN TRUE ANIMAL RESCUES they are a perfect introduction to FamilyCares Puppy and Kitty Love.
Jeanne Betancourt, lives in New York and is currently working on a new series for slightly older readers called Girls in the City. One of the girls has just moved to New York City from Dubois, Wyoming, the other two have lived in the city all their lives – one in Harlem and the other downtown. The stories are their adventures in the city, with photography and with one another.
The following interview was conducted by email in July 2002.
Maureen Byrne
