Spenser Series Overview
The Spenser books chronicle the adventures of me! I am Spenser, a very small, almost human, dog and I travel with my mother to the great cities of America. I listen carefully as Mom teaches me about the history, geography, and culture of each area. In addition to learning about the city we are visiting, Mom and I try to find a way to give back. Our special passion is childhood hunger, and so we look for someone who is feeding hungry children and offer to help out. In each story, too, Mom teaches me a green lesson. Green lessons help me learn to take care of this planet that we call home.
My books are interactive. In each section, there are tidbits which include teaching moments or additional information about something we have talked about in the story. These are designed for parents and teachers to explain as they read my stories to their children. Also, in each section, readers can earn a point. Points are earned by answering questions, figuring out math problems, looking at a map, or other similar activities. Each book has 8-12 points. A scorecard and point list can be printed from this website under the Friends tab. When a reader has collected all of the points possible in a book, he or she can be on my Honor Roll. It is also found on the Friends tab. A beautiful Honor Roll certificate can be printed with the reader's name.
To support each book, materials on the Parents and Teachers tabs offer creative and fun ideas. A virtual tour of Portland (visit all of our favorite places without leaving home) and lesson plans for grades pre-kindergarten through second grade are available free of charge. Purchase My Books
Spenser's Books
Spenser Goes to Portland
Portland, Oregon, is one of our favorite cities. We love Mount Hood, the tall mountain that stands guard over the city. The Columbia River Gorge, Multnomah Falls, and views of other mountains are especially fun. We also visited the International Rose Test Garden. Oregon Food Bank collects and distributes food all over the state of Oregon and up into Washington. Mom and I visited there to help out. My green lesson in this story is about littering. Why would anyone throw trash on the ground in this beautiful country? Mom said it is a big problem and so I am asking all of my friends to help me work on this.
Spenser Goes to St. Louis
St. Louis is one of my favorite cities and it is the first city I ever visited, when I was just a baby. During this trip I learned about some fun animals: bald eagles, butterflies, and Clydesdale horses. I visited the Gateway Arch (although I couldn't go to the top) and the new Cardinals baseball stadium. I loved getting concrete at Ted Drewes and Mom told me all about the Mighty Mississippi River. Mom and I visited Forest Park and tried to remember it as it would have been during the 1904 World's Fair. We went by a Fire Station to talk to them about the Scouting for Food Drive that we want to help with - we always try to find a way to help hungry children when we are traveling. My green lesson was about saving electricity. I can help do that by turning of lights. I hope other children will do that, too.
Spenser's Savannah
This book is about my hometown, Savannah, Georgia. Mom and I thought you would like to learn about the place where we live. We explore Savannah’s history as a Blue Ribbon City. As Georgia's first city and one of the original 13 colonies, Savannah has a rich history. Mom and I visited the Atlantic Ocean and talked about the animals that can be found at Savannah's beaches and rivers. We share with you the story of the mighty military which is all around Savannah. And we invite you to share in the celebration of St. Patrick's Day - Savannah style. Among my favorite places in Savannah are the Kid's Cafes, safe places for children to go after school to study, play, and have a good supper. My green lesson in this book is about using the new grocery bags that you don't throw away. I am going to help Mom remember to take them to the grocery store each time she goes.
SpenserNation is an initiative of CSM LLC.
