Waking Up, by author Stephen Sheridan, narrates a refreshing tale of hope and love. One puppy wakes up on a journey with mental illness and stigma so heavy that he struggles to accept himself. What he finds does not make his illness vanish forever, but it does change his life for good.

When our puppy opens up to his friends and shares his hurt, what does he ask of them? Empathy. / Acknowledge that I suffer pain, / stand by me through it, like it were rain. / Don"t run away, and don"t be afraid. / You are the love for which I've prayed. / Being present is the greatest gift you can give. / Sharing our life is the reason we live. /

A picture book created to introduce children to empathy, Waking Up calls out also to those grown-up kids who would like to be inspired again by the joy of being loved, of sharing the gift of another's presence. Waking Up is a love-note reminder: you are not alone, and you are infinitely valuable.