Ribbon the Border Collie

Ribbon, a beautiful black and white Border Collie, loves to herd sheep, cattle, goats, and even the family cat. Her owner, Allison, feels Ribbon has special abilities that could make her the #1 champion herding dog in all of North America some day. That dream, however, abruptly ends when the dog is hit by a car and injured while trying to protect a herd of "weed-whacking" goats in the Colorado high country. When things seem bleakest, Allison's mother suggests to her devastated daughter that Ribbon has what it takes to become a Therapy Dog -- visiting patients in hospitals, rehab centers, and nursing homes to cheer them up and give them hope for the future. But Allison is unsure.Allison's mother then shares her favorite Erma Bombeck clipping with her daughter: "When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left and could say, 'I used everything you gave me.'" Does this bit of wisdom convince Allison? Will Ribbon be able to change from herder to healer?

Lyn Bezek, also author of Daisy, The Cripple Creek Donkey, has created another inspiring children's book with a lesson that is important to all of us. Both Lyn and illustrator Su Hand are nurses in Pueblo, Colorado, and know that accidents or illnesses may sometimes keep us from our goals, but that we can usually find other God-given talents to make our life even better.