Love, patience, and Introducing Freckles: The Hotdogs are back
Pip is back, and this time she’s learning that love sometimes starts with patience.
After introducing readers to a spirited pup named Pip in her debut children’s picture book, local art teacher and author April Graves is back with Meet the Hotdogs: Introducing Freckles, the second title in her six-book series. The new story follows Pip as she adjusts to life with a new baby in the family and learns what it truly means to be patient.
Graves, who lives in Roscoe, used to be the librarian at Stone Creek and Ledgewood School. She continues to bring her stories into the art room at Rockton Grade School. As the full-time art teacher, she designs projects around her books upon their release and often receives hand-drawn Pip fan art from students. “I have a book full of Pip drawings,” she said with pride.
Meet The Hotdogs: Pip Learns to Ski reached number four on Amazon's Top 100 New Release list just one week after it launched on November 2, 2023.
In Meet the Hotdogs: Introducing Freckles, Pip finds herself struggling for attention as the household shifts focus to the newest arrival. At first, Pip isn’t sure she wants anything to do with the new pup. But through quiet moments and personal growth, she begins to see things differently.
“Learning patience was the most difficult thing ever for Pip,” Graves said. “And then realizing how much she loved the baby was a surprise.”
She describes the book as a story about how Pip learns to love in a way she didn’t expect. “It’s kind of a mini side love story between an older sister and the baby sister.”
Like the first book, Introducing Freckles ends with a message. A special section titled “Advice from Mama” offers practical tips for parents to help children better understand time and patience. Graves, who teaches over 500 students a week, said the theme reflects what she sees in the classroom as much as at home.
“You have to pull that love and patience out of you when you’re teaching because the students are so young,” she said. “Somebody needs a hug, somebody needs a Kleenex. We’ve got to keep the Band-Aid bag full. There are so many elements that go into everything we do every day. Sometimes, we need reminders that the foundation needs to be love and patience, and then everything grows from there.”
Pip’s first book focused on bravery. This story leans into love and patience. The third, which has already been written, will explore teamwork. Each book in the Meet the Hotdogs series introduces a new character and theme, with color-coded spines that will eventually form a rainbow.
The author and art teacher illustrates each book herself. As she writes, she’s already picturing the scenes as they unfold. “I’m always seeing flashes of pictures while I’m writing,” Graves said. “It feels like I should be typing with one hand and drawing with the other.”
She works closely with her book designer to make the layout accessible for young readers, including larger text and clear visuals that match the story. “Even at five, children are learning to read words,” she said. “We focus on making it reader-friendly for the four through ten-year-old age group.”
Graves will have a book signing event for Meet the Hotdogs: Introducing Freckles at Inkwell Books & Threads on Saturday, April 5 from 1- 3 pm. She will also appear at Talcott Free Library on Wednesday June 4, with two readings scheduled. Meet The Hotdogs: Pip learns to ski at 10 am, followed by the afternoon reading of Meet The Hotdogs: Introducing Freckles at 1:30 pm. The real Pip will be at both events for photos, and each book purchase includes a free book signing, bookplate, and bookmark.
While the Meet The Hotdogs stories are fictional, they are rooted in real experiences. Pip and Kimber, the dogs behind the characters, are Graves’s pets and often serve as her creative spark.
In the classroom, Pip also takes on a special role. She is a certified therapy dog who visits students once a week. “If there’s an empty chair by a student, she’ll go crawl up in the chair and sit next to them,” Graves said.
With Introducing Freckles, Graves hopes readers will find both a relatable story and a reminder that love often begins with patience.
You can find upcoming events, updates, additional details, (and adorable pictures of the real Pip) on her website at aprilgravesstudio.com, and by following her on Facebook, and Instagram.
