A Tale of Two Dogs

Releases September 2025!

A Tale of Two Dogs book cover children's book by Kirsten Nelson Telan illustrated by Maggie Flavhan

Each of us is unique, one of a kind. Our differences make us stronger, provide a sense of connection with others, opportunity for personal growth, and a sense of appreciation and value. Embracing our differences helps us expand our understanding of others and leads to a more peaceful existence. Time to rejoice and shine!

Mochi and Murphy are very different breeds of dogs from different countries. Their special encounter turns into the most amazing and inspiring friendship.

Mochi is a 17-pound Shiba Inu born in The Far East region of Japan. She is a hunting dog and an explorer. She is quirky, bold, and very independent. Mochi has a fluffy tail and a furry red coat with white markings on her chest and neck. She has wide cheeks which give her a natural heartwarming smile.

Murphy is a 20-pound Pug born in the Silk Road region of China. Pugs like Murphy were bred as companion dogs for the long journeys in the Chinese Emperors’ wagons. Murphy has big round eyes, wrinkles galore, and he is known to snort and snore.

Mochi teaches Murphy gentleness, patience, and self-control, while Murphy shows Mochi that faithfulness, kindness, and goodness go a long way in this world. This special friendship shows how our differences can make us stronger. But we also have more in common than we think. This is a book that celebrates our differences as well as our likenesses. Try spelling ‘Dog’ backwards...this is not a coincidence but a God wink!

Spread kindness like confetti. Be good to others and to yourself.

Kirsten xoxo

Romans 8:28 

A black and white sketch of landscapes inspired by Japanese culture and nature including a temple, a lion, a sunrise, mountains, people, trees, and boats. A first-draft illustration from Children's book 'A Tale of Two Dogs' by Kirsten Nelson Telan.

First Look at the Illustrations!

A sketchbook with hand-drawn illustrations of dogs, accompanied by handwritten notes as a first draft sketch from Children's book 'A Tale of Two Dogs' by Kirsten Nelson Telan.
Sketch of a tree, a dog, Murphy the Pug from China, and a panda on a branch with captions about spying and climbing as a first draft sketch from Children's book 'A Tale of Two Dogs' by Kirsten Nelson Telan.
Sketch of a castle with three towers, a maze, and a horse-drawn carriage with two people inside, navigating through a mountainous landscape with a sun and clouds in the background. First draft sketch from Children's book 'A Tale of Two Dogs' by
Sketches and clips from children's book A Tale of Two Dogs by Kirsten Nelson Telan about a dog named Murphy learning kindness and patience.
Sketches of travel scenes and greetings from Japan, including a welcoming sign, a Shiba Inu dog, a dog with a scroll, a temple, a torii gate, and a cat, with speech bubbles from children's book A Tale of Two Dogs by Kirsten Nelson Telan
Illustration of a book or notebook page with sketches for a children's book titled "A Tale of Two Dogs." The drawing includes a house, a large tree, a sun, a rainbow, flowers, a small fire hydrant, a sign that says "Bark Park All Dogs Allowed," and a dog silhouette. The text areas are labeled for the story titles and author/illustrator information.
Sketch of a forest scene with mountains in the background, trees, a fallen log, and a creek. To the right, there is a moonlit scene with two dogs running through the woods, under a night sky with clouds. Text on the page reads 'Murphy crawled out to safety, and they became friends that night' and 'As they ran through the trees and out of sight!'