Cheeky's Security Blanket
by Lindsay N. Lewchuk
illustrated by Isaac Klunk
Trade Paper: 8.5" x 8.5, Full-Color Illustrations, 28 pages
ISBN: 978-1-59663-688-0, $12.95.   Special Introductory Price: $10.95

WHAT COULD BE MORE IMPORTANT? …

… than a security blanket? This is what makes a puppy feel happy and secure! But Lindsay teaches Cheeky that some things are more important! Can you guess what they are?

This is a real story about a real puppy and her very loving owner! If you have a security blanket, then you may learn a valuable lesson when you read about Cheeky’s adventures in growing up! Find out more at

            http://www.cheekys-tales.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: My dreams of being an author were realized after inspiration struck from the adventures and experiences I had with my Great Dane, Cheeky. Several children’s stories resulted from our life together. From her wonky ear to her precocious antics, her personality and character became the ideal mouthpiece through which to educate children while entertaining them. I have wonderful memories of the incredible strength she displayed as she gracefully traversed her mountainous terrain with lightening speed; of that same strength used to lovingly support me; of holding my breath, wondering whether the wall would sustain the final crash as she bounded down the hall to “fetch” her rope; of my fresh bed linens being quickly blackened as she awoke me in the morning, nudging me with her very wet, Dane-sized snout; and so many more.
    I carried her little bundle of black, with paws disproportionately large for her small body, over the threshold, in the Spring of 2004. “Repecheek,” a variation of the name “Reepicheep,” the valiant warrior mouse from C. S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia, quickly became “Cheeky” in a response to her precocious, cheeky personality. Sitting in the vet’s office I ran through variations on the name “Repecheek.” At the sound of “Cheeky” she walked over, plopped her butt down at my feet, and gazed up at me with a twinkle in her eye and cock of her head, as if to say, “You called, Master?”
    God blessed me through her with daily joy, laughter, and most importantly, companionship. I had been diagnosed with neurotoxicity and environmental illness several years prior to acquiring Cheeky. Of her own volition, she taught herself how to be a service dog. She would alert me when she smelled chemical changes in my body before a reaction and help transport me from room to room when I was unable to myself. There was no fooling her nose and she flat out refused training for this. “Well (healthy) times are for play followed by you hitting your college books, Mom. Don’t try training—when you need me I’ll be there.” Her playful attitude served as a constant reminder to make the most of the well times I had.
    I desire Cheeky to continue to come alive in the active imaginations of little ones as they enter into stories of her adventures with lessons learned along the way. She represented her breed with regal strength and grace. Bigger than life, she greatly enriched my life by being simply, Cheeky. I graduated summa cum laude from NCSU in 2008 with a B.A. in philosophy. I am finally successfully managing my illness and pursuing a Masters.