Lori Lobenstine: The Barking Puppy

When Sophie and her two Jack Russell terriers move to Boston, she's excited not to be the only brown kid in the neighborhood anymore. She instantly likes the quirky teenager named Juno next door and her pug, Bonney. But not everything's easy. Her classmates make fun of her Vermont overalls. The upstairs neighbor hates barking. And Bonney needs surgery that Juno's family can't afford.

So Sophie and Juno invent the Barking Puppy, the first ever newspaper written “by dogs” and “for dogs.” Will anyone else get how funny it is? And more importantly, can they sell it to raise enough money in time to save Bonney? Will the landlord kick Sophie and her mom out before they even get started?

Don't miss this first edition of a doggone great series and find out for yourself!

Lori Lobenstine and her goddaughter, Sophie Canon, have been collaborating on the original Barking Puppy newspaper since Sophie was ten years old. The Barking Puppy (Levine Querido, 2025; Il Sung Na, illustrator) is Lori’s first children’s book, and Sophie was her creative consultant, contributing her lived experiences, as well as her keen ear for youth dialogue and uncanny blend of human and dog humor.

Lobenstine’s other passions include being a co-founder of the Design Studio for Social Intervention (DS4SI), member of the Hot Flashes basketball team, and founder of the website femalesneakerfiend. Her previous nonfiction books include Girls Got Kicks (Levellers Press, 2011; Amanda Lopez, photographer) and Ideas, Arrangements, Effects: Systems Change and Social Justice (Minor Compositions, 2020; Kenneth Bailey and Ayako Maruyama, co-authors). She lives in Boston, MA and has her BA in American Studies from Wesleyan University.

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EVENT ACCESSIBILITY

This event will take place at street level. If possible, the event will be livestreamed to YouTube. ASL interpretation may be provided (based on the availability of interpreters) but must be requested at least 2 weeks in advance of the event. Seats are limited. Please email us at dGlja2V0aW5nIHwgYnJvb2tsaW5lYm9va3NtaXRoICEgY29t as soon as possible if you require ASL interpretation, guaranteed seating, or other accommodations. We will do our best to serve your needs!

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