Breakfast With Bogart

Certified naturalist, Kelly Hayward, and author, Kathleen McColloch tell the true story of Kelly and husband, Terry, who exchange life in the city for the intriguing dance of nature that surrounds their new cottage in the country. Each day, the Haywards enjoy watching the various creatures that happily populate the meadow and pond just outside their window glass.Then they meet the exception, one little frog that insists on moving into the Hayward’s kitchen. As they tell it, life with their new little friend, Bogart, becomes a daily adventure they wish to share with a wider audience after they discovered that people of all ages appreciate its magic.

Kelly and Kathleen feel this story is unique and unlike most picture books involving animal characters because:

1. The story is told from the viewpoint of two adults, though it is evident that they are well in touch with their inner child .

2. The photos do not involve any manipulation or posing of animals and represent the actual experiences of Kelly and her husband as told to Kathleen. The frog, Bogart, remains free to enter and leave the house at all times through a slightly open window.

3. Though the story often suggests what certain animal behaviors seem to indicate about the animal’s thinking, there is no attempt to assign totally human traits to the story’s animal characters unlike those in picture books that employ cartoon illustrations.