On writing Always Blue for Chicu:
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On Parrots: Boo picking out a color
Parrots are amazing: smart, funny, and deeply passionate. They are also noisy, messy, live forever, still retain their wild instincts, have so many needs and generally do not make good household pets. They have this beautiful flock mentality: we are as one. A parrot will always consider you THEIR equal. Those who understand their many needs have wonderful relationships. Those who don't are doomed to frustration and may eventually send the parrot away on a long circuitous journey.
After 17 years with our tiny spitfire, Boo, I wanted to write a story about the life of a parrot, taken from his wild home and brought to live many lives with many owners who did not understand a parrot is a parrot and not a dog, or a piece of furniture. I drew upon true stories of many parrots' experiences, some too sad to put in a children's book.
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More images from Always Blue for Chicu:
For more information about parrot welfare:
Here are some of the wonderful parrots organizations I was extremely fortunate to work with:
World Parrot Trust: www.parrots.org
Foster Parrots Ltd. & The New England Exotic Wildlife Sanctuary: www.fosterparrots.com
Avian Welfare Coalition: www.avianwelfare.org
The Blue-fronted Amazon Project: www.blueparrot.wildlifedirect.org
Project Perry: www.projectperry.com
and of course, Emilie Buchwald's wonderful publishing house, who made it all happen:
The Gryphon Press: www.thegryphonpress.com
World Parrot Trust: www.parrots.org
Foster Parrots Ltd. & The New England Exotic Wildlife Sanctuary: www.fosterparrots.com
Avian Welfare Coalition: www.avianwelfare.org
The Blue-fronted Amazon Project: www.blueparrot.wildlifedirect.org
Project Perry: www.projectperry.com
and of course, Emilie Buchwald's wonderful publishing house, who made it all happen:
The Gryphon Press: www.thegryphonpress.com
All rights reserved © 2023 Karen Dugan