"Max, the Shelter Dog," a Children’s Book Written by Nicole Rivera, Makes Its Debut in the Classroom Teaching Animal Compassion

Brooklyn, NY, March 12, 2010 --(PR.com)-- Nicole Rivera, author of "Max, the Shelter Dog," a children’s story about an energetic and playful pit bull surrendered to a shelter by his owner, continues her mission to help spread the good word about animal compassion.

"I originally wrote 'Max, The Shelter Dog' as a way to give back and say thank you to all the beautiful pit bulls I met while volunteering at my local animal shelter," Nicole says, "but since then, Max has taken on a bigger mission, and that is to teach animal compassion worldwide, although in the beginning, I really didn’t know how I was going to do this.”

The inspiration for what is now called “Max’s Animal Compassion Curriculum” (MACC) came from Nicole’s mom, Judith Rivera, who passed away from ovarian cancer in October of 2009.

“My mom and I were having a very candid conversation back in late July, early August of 2009. It wasn’t going well and so I asked her what she wanted to do with her life. She said, ‘I’ve always wanted to work with children.’ When we got off the phone I desperately thought about what I could do to help her live her dream. And like the title of the book, Max popped into my head. I thought, ‘I have a children’s book!’ as if I had just realized this for the first time.”

Nicole went to work and contacted her friend and teacher Ann Echols. “We brainstormed for a while and then she suggested I write a curriculum for Max." And so with the guidance of Ms. Echols, and that of some of Max’s Facebook friends, Nicole created MACC.

"Max's Animal Compassion Curriculum" (MACC) is geared towards children 6-8 years (grades 1-3). It teaches children the importance of adopting from shelters, and inspires them to take action and help a homeless animal in need through fun and inspirational activities. It also helps build character and confidence by having the children help, and possibly save another being.

“I was ecstatic when MACC was finally taught to a group of 1st graders at the St. Vincent de Paul Parish School in West Virginia by Claudia Raymer. I also cried because I thought of my mom, and how I wish she was physically here to see what she inspired, and the positive impact Max had on the children. My mom is, well, was Max’s number one fan.”

MACC is available for purchase on his website and Nicole is also available for Author Visits in the New York City area, which consists of a 30 minute Q&A session with the students after the completion of MACC.

Nicole says, “Max is my passion and children are the future, and I will always do what I can to help teach children animal compassion through Max’s story.”

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