Thank you to the Kids Firefighter Blog

High paw to the Kids Firefighter Blog for including information about Firefighter Dayna's fire safety site! The kids Firefighter Blog is a great source to find Kids Firefighter activities, gear, toys, videos, games and events on the Internet.

To visit the blog, click HERE.

Giving is so much fun!

Giving is so much fun! Recently Firefighter Dayna and I donated 25 copies of our children's fire safety book, Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog, to The Great Sprout Tuck-in. The copies were signed by Firefighter Dayna and "pawed" by me.

There are alot of children out there without books, and we wanted to help my good friends at Sprout with this very important cause!

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For those of you that may not be familiar with Sprout, they are the first 24-hour preschool network created for children ages 2-5 and their parents and caregivers. Sprout is available on TV, on demand and online. Firefighter Dayna, Spanner and I love Sprout and helping share fire safety messages after Fireman Sam on Sprout on Demand and online.

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Sprout is also collecting new pajamas along with new books for the Pajama Project . Pajamas and books will go directly to children in need all over the country, including those in foster care who are waiting and hoping to be adopted. Isn't that so awesome?

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To learn how you can help make a difference or for more information on The Great Sprout Tuck-In, visit their website HERE. To learn more about my book, Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog, visit HERE.

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Giving is so much fun!

High paw to my friends at FireRescue1.com!

High paw to FireRescue1.com for adding my fire safety blogs to their blog and for sending out the notice to their over 60,000 members! Wow, you guys are awesome!

I was so excited to meet some of the staff from FireRescue1.com at FDIC in Indianapolis in April.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxSparkles with FireRescue1’s Gina Ciccarelli

xxxxxxxxxxxxxSparkles with FireRescue1’s Jennifer Hickerson

To visit their blog, click HERE. To see the awesome newsletter that went out to their members, click HERE.

Thank you so much for helping us spread the fire safety message!

Governor Mike Beebe Video

Wow! Yesterday was such a big day! Below is a video of me meeting Governor Mike Beebe. It was really nice meeting him and I am so happy that he helps keep everyone in Arkansas fire safe. High Paw!




Thank you, Governor Beebe, for all that you do to help keep Arkansans fire safe!

Today I met Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe

Today I was so excited to meet Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe. Governor Beebe was so nice and Firefighter Dayna and I had the best time!

To see more pictures, please click HERE.

Fire Safety Efforts Mentioned on the Floor of Congress

Recently Congressman John Boozman mentioned our fire safety efforts on the floor of Congress. We are thankful to Congressman Boozman for his support over the years in helping us keep people fire safe.



To see the C-Span article click HERE.
To learn more about the 2009 NFPA Fire Safety Educator Award, please click HERE.

Sparkles in May/June Issue of DogSport Magazine

I was so excited to see a review of our book, Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog in this months issue of DogSport Magazine! The review is in the DogSport Magazine's Bookshelf section on page 90.

Here's what the DogSport staff had to say about Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog:

"Sparkles is a Fire Safety Dog from Clarksville, Arkansas that travels with firefighter Dayna Hilton teaching fire safety messages to children all across the United States. Together the two have reached millions of children and their caregivers. The National Fire Protection Association, in 2007, stated that there were more than 1.5 million fires reported in the United States, with 3,430 civilian deaths and 17,675 civilian injuries and Sparkles and Firefighter Dayna hope to change these statistics, one presentation at a time. Sparkle's tail wags in excitement about learning and teaching fire safety together and riding in the big red fire truck! Dayna begins this book by highlighting important words or phrases that should be explained to children much like she begins her presentation when visiting local elementary schools. This book teaches the most important fire safety information that children should be learning at a young age to be prepared in case of a fire emergency. The photos help to illustrate what is being taught and Sparkles participates as well, crawling and getting low. Children are also taught how firefighters will keep them safety and whey the wear "special clothes" in a fire. This is a wonderful learning tool for children! Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog literally is a brilliant quick and easy read for children. Not only will they learn the importance of fire safety, but also by using the beautiful Dalmatian dog in colorful pictures throughout the book, it almost guarantees this becoming a child's favorite book to read and re-read all the while re-learning the importance of fire safety. Reading gives children skills in hangling complex thoughts, ideas and teachings. DogSport Magazine recommends.... every classroom investing in bringing this book into elementary schools to help in teaching fire safety. "

Hi paw to everyone at DogSport Magazine for helping us spread the fire safety message! You guys rock!

New Video

Hi boys and girls! Here's a new video that my good friend Pat made while we were at FDIC. Firefighter Dayna and I just loved meeting all of the boys and girls that stopped by to say hello! Maybe someday I will get to meet you too!

Sparkles' Trip to Indiana

I traveled to Indiana to attend the Fire Department Instructor's Conference in Indianapolis with Firefighter Dayna. We had the most amazing time, seeing old friends and meeting new ones!

Posing outside the Indiana Conference Center

On Wednesday, Ifinally had the opportunity to meet Jake the Fire Dog. Jake teaches fire safety in Michigan. What a cool dog!

Sparkles and Jake pose for pictures.

On Thursday, Firefighter Dayna and I were at the National Volunteer Fire Council booth.

Saturday we were at the IFSTA booth.

To see more pictures from our big adventure, click HERE.

New Newscast Videos Released

We just received these news videos are from Sparkles' visit to Celia Clinton Elementary School on February 24, 2009. To read more about Sparkles' and her help in saving the lives of two children and their families, click HERE.

Sparkles is headed to Indianapolis!

Sparkles is Headed to Indy!

Come visit Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog at the Fire Department Instructors Conference in Indianapolis at the Indiana Convention Center. Please see the schedule below. Hope to see you there!






Thursday, April 23rd
National Volunteer Fire Council
2-5 P.M.
Booth 91

Saturday, April 25th
International Fire Services Training Association
9-12 A.M.
Booth 2450

Come see me in Russellville!

Firefighter Dayna is going to be reading an excerpt from our book, Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog from 6:54-6:59 at Hastings Books in Russellville (AR). Hope to see you there!

Coloring Page Sent by Justin

Hey Justin! Thanks for sending me a picture of you
with your coloring page! We love it! You did a great job!

Would you like to send us your coloring page of Sparkles? You can get your very own coloring page HERE! Send it to sparkles@sparklesthefiresafetydog.com and we'll post it on our blogs!

New Paw Signing Poster

I am so excited and can't wait for the Fire Department Instructors Conference in Indianapolis! Firefighter Dayna and I will be at the IFSTA and NVFC booths.

We hope to see you there!

New Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog Coloring Page

Get out the crayons! The new Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog coloring page is here! Click on the picture below to print off your copy and start coloring away!


Thank you to PBS KIDS Sprout for the use of their drawing!
You can find more fun coloring pages, by going HERE.

New Coloring Page!

Click on the picture of Firefighter Dayna to get your coloring page!


You can find more fun coloring pages, by going HERE.

Having Fun on the K9 Magazine Website

You can create your own cover on the K9 Magazine website with your pet. Here's what our "cover" looks like:

Vote for our cover HERE.

Create your own custom K9 Magazine cover using your photos! click here

Hey Kids! Hope to See You in Little Rock April 18th!

Hi boys and girls!

I can't wait to participate with Firefighter Dayna in the 2009 Arkansas Literary Festival in Little Rock, April 18th!

Click on the picture on the poster to learn more! I hope to see you there!

Sparkles

Thank you to the Pre-K Students at Celia Clinton Elementary!

Thank you to all of my pre-k friends at Celia Clinton Elementary for my new spotted friend! I love it!
Love,
Sparkles

Sparkles in the News

Sparkles was recently in the Greenwood Courier (AR) and the Greater Tulsa Reporter (OK).

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxGreenwood Democrat, March 18, 2009

xxxxxxGreater Tulsa Reporter, Mid-March to Mid-April 2009 Issue

Note from Adam

Received these two nice notes from Adam and his mom, Heather. Adam was the winner of Michelle Brownlow's My Semblance of Sanity blog contest a couple of weeks ago and received lots of goodies from Sparkles. Adam is also a Sproutlet and enjoys watching Sparkles and Spanner's fire safety tips on PBS KIDS Sprout.

Dear FireFighter Dayna~

Thank you very much for 'my mail'. As you can see, I got so surprised to see a package for ME from Sparkles. 'Mama, she even signed it for ME & Brother!!!' I love it when dogs 'talk' to me!

Love,
Adam

Dear Dayna~

We listen/read along with Sparkles about every other day. The package was such a fun present for them and we had to put up the fire alarm RIGHT away so that the firemen 'know where to find my boys'. (Because the one we had already, is NOT the same Mama.) I'm enclosing some pics...1) Adam learning the package is from Sparkles, 2) Dad & Adam reading THE MAIL, 3) Working on his 'firemap'the next morning, still in jammies 'cuz it's 'portant'. Dayna, your strategies work. REALLY work. Because they are simplewords the kids already know. Taught by a dog that is 'real' and not pretend. She has a human that loves her and '
she shows me how I'm soso brave.' You are making a difference and it does matter. Because that means that if something ever happens, my boys will know the words/actions they need to use. Even if I have to remind them, I won't have to teach it to them in the moment.

Heather













Thank you Adam and Heather for sending the nice notes and great pictures!

Firefighter Dayna, Sparkles and Spanner

Updated Event List

April 16th

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Authors and Coffee

6:30 P.M.

Hastings Hardback Cafe

Russellville, Arkansas

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April 17th

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North Little Rock Schools

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April 18th

Arkansas Literary Festival

1:00 P.M.

Historic Arkansas Museum

Little Rock, Arkansas

April 23rd

National Volunteer Fire Council Booth

2:00-5:00 P.M.

Fire Department Instructor's Conference

Indianapolis, Indiana

April 25th

IFSTA Booth

9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.

Fire Department Instructor's Conference

Indianapolis, Indiana

June 6-9

NFPA Conference

Chicago, Illinois

August 24-28

Fire Rescue International

Dallas, Texas

September or October
Showcase on the Mall

Event Sponsored by the Congressional Fire Services Institute

Home Safety Council Education Pavilion

Washington, DC

Sparkles on "Jakezilla" Blog

Jake~ You and your mom are so cool! Thank you so much for adding my fire safety message to your blog! I just love Sproutlets who are Jr. Firefighters and help me and Firefighter Dayna spread the fire safety message!

Be sure to visit Jake's mom's blog HERE and look for a contest coming really soon on their blog!

Drawing from Amber-Mae, Chloe, Faith and Melissa in Malaysia Arrives

Amber-Mae, Chloe, Faith and Melissa, we love you! Thank you so much for the awesome drawing of me and for your Limited Edition DVD, "Stop" (The proceeds from "Stop" help PAWS dogs and cats for adoption). Visit their page HERE. And if you want to see something really cute, check out Amber's visit to the vet.

Mom loves the drawing and sit hanging right where we can see it when we sit at the computer. : )

If you would like to send us your drawing of Sparkles, we will feature here on our blog!

Sparkles on the My Semblance of Sanity "Mommy Blog"

This morning, I'm on my very first "Mommy Blog", My Semblance of Sanity, by Michelle Brownlow. Michelle is helping us reach thousands of moms and their families across the country with the fire safety message. Thanks, Michelle!

Be sure to check out Michelle's blog and you can have a chance to win a "Limited Edition" of my book, Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog. This book is a very special "Limited Edition" and is signed by Firefighter Dayna, Firefighter Michael, and "pawed" by me! You will also receive a First Alert Smoke Alarm, an audio book (made by three generations of firefighters and me) and a Rush and Rescue Firetruck. Does that sound like fun or what? Sparkles

Check out the March/April issue of FIDO Friendly Magazine

Hey boys and girls! Check out the March/April issue of FIDO Friendly magazine. Click HERE to see a page on the web that mentions the "Features." These features mention Sparkles. I can't wait until this issue hits the stands in Arkansas! Sparkles

Check out the Little Rock Family Magazine Facebook Page

I made new friends from the Little Rock Family magazine! My new friend, Waynette, contacted Firefighter Dayna and me for a story they are running in the April issue about the Arkansas Literary Festival (we'll be at the festival on the 18th of April). She also put the cover of our book, Sparkles the Fire Safety Dog on their Facebook page. Cool!

Thanks for helping us spread the fire safety message Waynette and everyone at Little Rock Family magazine! High paw!

I just received this picture from Justin Maynard, and I was so excited to get this picture, my tail has been wagging non-stop! Justin's mom wrote on my Facebook Page: "A happy reader and fan of Sparkles, Justin Maynard. He wants to meet Sparkles and give him a big puppy hug!" Justin, I would love to have a big puppy hug and would love to meet you someday! I have my paws crossed! Love, Sparkles

Cards for Sparkles

Thank you to all of the children that sent in these wonderful cards to Sparkles! Click on the photo below to watch a slideshow of the cards.

From Movies

Sparkles has a new fan

Thanks to Seth for this picture that he sent me! His mom reviewed my new book and I was so excited that he sent this picture!