For ages 3-9Winston the Water Explorer sweeps young readers into the heroic and often humorous adventures of a Portuguese Water Dog named Winston and his young master, Josh. Through a rare storm at sea, they find themselves sailing on the Santa Maria with Christopher Columbus, his son, Fernando, and the parrot, Exploradora. As a powder monkey and lookout on the ship, the duo survives perilous encounters with sharks, cannibals, and the crusty and sometimes cruel captain as they seek a way home. They learn that life is a continual and often exciting exploration, especially when you have a friend by your side. Winston the Water Dog is a recipient of the prestigious Silver Mom's Choice Awards. The Mom's Choice Awards honors excellence in family-friendly media, products and services. An esteemed panel of judges includes education, media and other experts as well as parents, children, librarians, performing artists, producers, medical and business professionals, authors, scientists and others. A sampling of the panel members includes: Dr. Twila C. Liggett, Ten-time Emmy-winner, professor and founder of Reading Rainbow; Julie Aigner-Clark, Creator of Baby Einstein and The Safe Side Project; Jodee Blanco, New York Times Best-Selling Author; LeAnn Thieman, Motivational speaker and coauthor of seven Chicken Soup For The Soul books; and Tara Paterson, Certified Parent Coach, and founder of the Mom's Choice Awards. Parents and educators look for the Mom s Choice Awards seal in selecting quality materials and products for children and families. This book/product has been honored by this distinguished award. --Mom's Choice Awards Mary Korr lives in Barrington, R. I., with her husband, Ken, and their two Water Dogs, Jakey and Elvis.This book captures the adventures of their son, Josh, and the family's first Portuguese Water Dog, Winston. A native New Yorker, the author graduated from Queens College and then continued her studies at the University of Missouri Graduate School of Journalism. She has worked as an editor, reporter and writer for newspapers in New York, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Her work has been recognized by the New England Press Association and the Associated Press, among others.Her stories have also appeared in the Brown Alumni Magazine, other university publications, and in American's Favorite Poems, an anthology edited by former U.S. Poet Laureate, Robert Pinsky.This is her first children's book.