Winter Break is a terrific time to relax and leisure read a pleasant book. I suggest my most recent book, Unleashed! The Dog Park Chronicles, which is now available in both paperback and ebook versions from amazon.comand barnesandnoble.com. This is my first novel for young people. But the volume has also garnered praise from adults who have read it and loved it!

In the book, I have created a charming cast of animal characters and their human companions who live in or visit the local dog park. Each event which takes place holds an essential message about kindness, community, inclusion, and personal responsibility. There are also messages of anti-bullying and anti-prejudice.

In addition, the narrative includes commentary about how young people can appreciate nature, even if they live in a suburban environment. I explore themes related to the migratory patterns of Canada geese, the natural instincts of the animal characters, and the progression of the seasons.

The dog park described in the novel, Vila Borba, really exists! It is located not far from my home in Chino Hills, California. And depicted on the cover of the book are two of my very own pets! The little white terrier mix on the front cover is Kurby, whose rescue story is described in Chapter 4. (In the book the Kurby character is named Bowser.) The elegant black and white tuxedo pictured on the back cover is my own ladycat, Licorice.

This 156-page book would make a terrific book for you and your students to read. If you have already purchased the book, thank you so much! I hope you would consider writing a review of the story on amazon. I am also asking for support to offer an AR (Accelerated Reading) quiz for the book. You could make a request for this at the AR website.

Season’s Greetings, and happy readings!

Author Terry Lee Marzell and her celebrity-dog, Kurby, share Unleashed! The Dog Park Chronicles. Photo Credit: Hal Marzell

Terry Lee Marzell and her celebrity-dog, Kurby, will be making an author appearance at the Paws in the Park event to be held on Sat., Sept. 6, 2025, from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. The event will be held at Vila Borba Dog Park located at 17001 Amadora Dr, Chino Hills, CA 91709. At the event, Terry will feature her book, Unleashed! The Dog Park Chronicles, a children’s book which features a setting at Vila Borba.

The novel shares the story of Bowser which is based on the true-life experience of Kurby, who was rescued from his abusive former owner. He’s even depicted on the front cover of the book! Another character in the novel is the elegant tuxedo cat, Licorice, another of Terry’s fur babies. She appears on the book’s back cover.

But that’s not all the book is about! The narrative features a charming cast of animal characters and their human companions who live in or visit the dog park. Each event which takes place holds an essential message about kindness, community, inclusion, and personal responsibility. There are also messages about anti-bullying and anti-prejudice. In addition, the narrative includes commentary about how young people can appreciate nature, even if they live in a suburban environment. For example, there are chapters about the migratory patterns of Canada geese, the natural instincts of the animal characters, and the progression of the seasons.

Come to the Paws in the Park event to meet Terry Lee Marzell and Kurby! There you can purchase a copy of the novel and have it personally autographed by the author. You can also purchase the book online from amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com.

Terry Lee Marzell has earned a prestigious Martin P. Mathiesen Award from the California Retired Teachers Association. Photo credit: Hal Marzell

Author and retired teacher Terry Lee Marzell was one of four members of the California Retired Teachers Association (CalRTA) who received a 2025 Martin P. Mathiesen Award. The awards were announced at the Annual Convention and Delegate Assembly held in Los Angeles last June.

The Mathiesen Award is presented to recognize CalRTA members for their service to CalRTA and to the community. Marzell earned the honor for her service as the CalRTA Division 80 President, newsletter editor, and Scholarship Committee member. Marzell has also participated in numerous community service projects, including gathering donations of clothing and hygiene products for low-income students, food banks, and homeless shelters, and pet foods and supplies for the local no-kill pet shelter. She has also worked as an adult literacy tutor at her local library.

The Mathiesen Award is given to runners-up for the 2025 Ruth Q. DePrida Award, which was earned by Lynn McKenna of Eureka. In addition to Marzell, this year’s Mathiesen Award winners included Scott Schmerelson of the San Fernando Valley; Pat Zetah of Solano County; and David Belk of Redlands—Yucaipa.