The Barnyard Buddies Meet a Newcomer (Paperback or Softback)

A touching, beautifully illustrated story with an important message of empathy and compassion. This exciting adventure brings to light the real-life struggles of people in transition. Readers of all ages are reminded of the importance of belonging for mental and physical health. The extensive Parent and Educator Guide provides several lesson plans.

In this story, a forlorn and hungry refugee dog wanders into the barnyard where common real-life concerns about newcomers are played out by barnyard animals. Portland Pig wonders how this dog will be fed, while others wonder if he's dangerous. "Dogs bite!" says Ol’ Dot, one of the horses. Ultimately, the characters figure out a consensus solution that allows them to act compassionately, though they have concerns.

Children and adults alike will cry over the suffering of the refugee dog, and turn a page to feel the fear that some of the Barnyard Buddies have of the newcomer. They will watch courage grow among the animals as they get to know the newcomer, and will appreciate that each one's voice is heard. They will cheer for the dog as he bravely chases the coyote out of the chicken coup, and gasp when, after saving the chickens, the farmer is still planning to take the dog to the animal shelter.

The story evolves…While it does have a happy ending, many of the children coming to our country or our communities as immigrants, refugees, and newcomers, don’t have that experience.

Children benefit from opportunities to think about these difficult conundrums. Most children, quite naturally, hold compassion in their hearts while they consider practical implications. Reinforcing this ability, and putting it in a memorable story helps them recognize the value of their thinking. Further, it helps them believe in themselves and stand up with courage to bully behavior or other tactics of isolation.

The Barnyard Buddies illustrate and talk about both majority rule and consensus-building. The book fills a current, intense need for children to delve more deeply as they begin to grapple with complex problems. Today’s kids will need to solve many issues around increased displacement as we face disruptions due to climate change, war, famine, political unrest, and so on.

Illustrator, Jeanine-Jonee brings Penshorn’s characters to life. If you've read Penshorn's other award-winning books: “The Barnyard Buddies STOP for Peace” and “I Can See Peace,” you will recognize her amazing talent at bringing life and emotion to each character.

This is a story that stays with children for life. It is a book grown-ups will love reading over and over to kids -- both young and old. Supplied with the Parent and Educator Guide, painstakingly edited for its content by Rebecca Janke, M.Ed, adults will have many tools for creating a more peaceful, inclusive classroom, home, or faith environment.

Reading stories of compassion and peace to young children, who learn to love books because their hearts are filled and their spirits are inspired, helps nurture a culture we all want to live in. We all need to feel we belong. That's the first step toward stopping the next school shooting, the next bully's actions or even stopping the destruction of the environment. Our shared humanity is celebrated by our compassionate actions.

Julie seeks to enhance young children's social and emotional "smarts" through memorable stories thus creating a more harmonious world. Using a background in writing, music, teaching, and horse training she explores realistic, vibrant characters that encourage children's engagement. Young children learn to love books because their hearts are filled and their spirits are inspired. Julie's stories reach for their natural humanity, so children can begin to create and sustain a culture of peace. Stories with characters expressing and seeking compassion nurture children's instincts to be kind and generous. These stories also build social and emotional skills and can become important resources for schools, families, and communities. A horse trainer since 1976, Penshorn also spent 10 years devoted to the nonprofit, Growing Communities for Peace that she co-directed with Rebecca Janke, M. Ed., the co-author of "Peacemaker's A, B, Cs for Young Children: A guide for teaching conflict resolution with a peace table". That book showed teachers of ages 3 to 8 how to create the environment and improve the culture of their classroom to make it a safe and peaceful place for learning where equity includes encouraging children to solve their problems using a peace table. It sold over 13,000 copies. After a hiatus from the nonprofit, Julie decided to force some time into her life for peacemaking. So, in 2017, she took children into her part-real, part-imaginary barnyard with a story that taught them conflict resolution, empathy, and compassion. That story, "The Barnyard Buddies STOP for Peace", taught a simple and memorable STOP process for conflict resolution. She also felt it was key to provide a resource that defined and inspired seeking peace, so she wrote what became the winner of the Indie Human Relations Peace Book of the Year, "I Can See Peace" (2018). As a songwriter and musician, Julie was convinced that a musical version of the essential content of these two books would be valuable for kids, so she worked with the Friends School of Minnesota and others to record music and short children's dialogues in which kids practiced the STOP process for conflict resolution and learned many more original songs for peace. In "The Barnyard Buddies Meet a Newcomer", Julie once again welcomes kids into the barnyard where they empathize with the suffering of an abandoned dog who shows up one day. They wonder how this new mouth will be fed and what Farmer Jim will do when he sees him. We see their courage mount as, along with the Barnyard Buddies, they learn about decision-making in community and compassion for others as they work through their fears! They watch the dog bravely chase the coyote out of the chicken coup, and gasp when, after saving the chickens, the dog is still going to be sent to the animal shelter. They ultimately witness the full transformation of the grouchy farmer who finally exhibits acceptance and compassion along with the courage to bring the story to its satisfying conclusion. Julie believes courage is what makes her a good rider. And that courage is particularly important to our children right now. The polarization in society has become severe and presents a crisis the next generations will have to heal. Whether it's stopping the next school shooting or stopping the destruction of the environment, it takes courage to offer positions that utilize anger as a catalyst for change, while enhancing true understanding and compassion. Each of the kids' books has an extensive Parent and Educator Guide at the end which expands the learning and makes the book more powerful. The first two books have companion music as well. Julie believes that with education and practice, children can become wise decision-makers who are able to face the complexities of any problem without abandoning compassion and empathy.