Our Story

A note from the author

Every school morning in Atlanta, I drove my kids past a small meadow where six miniature donkeys spent their days. Over time, I began to wonder. How did they get there? What were their names? Where did they sleep at night? And did they ever dream of somewhere else?

When they weren’t there as we drove by, we were disappointed. When they were grazing in all their glory, we were elated. The boys in the back seat started joining in. The questions turned into names. The names turned into personalities. And the personalities turned into a rhyming quest across Drearyland.

Those drives began an unusual fascination with what I always called Baby Donks. So I started writing. And finally, after a few years of dormancy and a move to Arizona, this book is my answer, my own Donk tale. There were six in that meadow, but in my story there are seven, because every pack has room for one more friend.

As it turns out, Arizona has great support for donkeys, and they show up all through its history. So it made sense to me to support those sanctuaries through this effort. That’s why we’re proud supporters of donkey rescues.

And finally, the number 13 has special meaning to me. You’ll find it hidden throughout the books.