Our TV Debut!

Murray the Sheepadoodle here. The Lady and I had our television debut on April 2, 2026 to celebrate National Children’s Picture Book Day! The NBC station in Albany, WNYT, interviewed us during the 3rd Hour show. The Lady did really well. I, of course, was fantastic! They’ve asked us back for another segment, so stay tuned.

Why are picture books so important?

Because picture books are really a child’s first way of understanding the world. These books expose children to more diverse words about emotions than everyday conversation. The stories help kids understand emotions and feelings because they are hearing more emotional language than they would in everyday life.

Children’s picture books are also key to helping children build a vocabulary. Picture books introduce words that kids don’t hear in everyday conversation — that’s how vocabulary really grows.

Here are some interesting statistics about families that read together:

• Children who are read to are three times more likely to become avid readers themselves.
• Nearly half of parents say they feel closer to their child when reading together.

The benefits of having reading in a child’s life early on are clear:

• Books give kids words for feelings they don’t know how to express YET
• Picture books let kids practice real-life situations in a safe, comforting way
• Reading together is where learning and connection happen at the same time
• A child who is read to feels both smarter and more secure

So not only does reading together create future readers, but it also creates stronger families.

But Reading is Declining. In 2012, 64% of children were read to. In 2025, that percent dropped to 41%.

The Lady and I want to turn that statistic on its head. That’s where I come in. My story of trying to make friends really connects with the kids — and with adults, too. I keep asking doggies to play and I keep on trying. Every time we read to a group of children, they see themselves in our story. They see that it’s okay to feel left out or get turned down. When I say, ‘That’s okay. I’ll keep trying’, kids learn to be resilient.

Let us know if you want us to visit your school or library. We love to travel!