Dexter the stand up Dog

Dexter is Award winning!

| Bonnie Kelso

While Dexter has been home recovering from a successful bionic elbow surgery in Milan, Italy . . . he won a book award! That dog is unstoppable!

The California Reading Association recently announced the winners of their prestigious EUREKA! Awards for nonfiction books and Dexter, The Stand Up Dog was among them! I’m so excited for this honor, as it will get Dexter’s inspirational story of hope, determination, and adaptability in front of even more kids who need to hear it.

To read more about Dexter and the backstory to his story, check out this recent interview with me and Kentee (Dexter’s mom) in Foreword Magazine: Having a PAWS-itive Mindset! A Conversation with the Creators of Dexter: The Stand Up Dog.

Way to go, buddy!

Bonnie

Bonnie Kelso is the author and illustrator of several books for children. Her newest release is DEXTER: THE STAND UP DOG, co-written by Kentee Pasek, and as seen on the Today Show’s Jenna & Friends. Available now.

Have you heard about Dexter?

| Bonnie Kelso

I’m wondering if you’ve heard about Dexter, the Stand Up Dog? Dexter is a Brittany Spaniel who was in a car accident as a pup and lost one front leg and full use of his other front leg. After healing, Dexter adapted by teaching himself how to walk on his two hind legs! This all happened during the pandemic, so his owner shared his story of resilience on Instagram and his story of strength and persistence went viral.

His children’s book released in September and during the launch, something happened to Dexter. He wasn’t walking the same way and with the same vigor as before. X-rays showed that the pins in his front elbow had come undone. Now Dexter is in Milan, Italy, getting ready for a rare surgery. They are going to give him a BIONIC ELBOW! Yes, it’s incredible! I highly recommend you follow his story as it continues to unfold on Instagram.

Sending big hugs to Dexter and his family from across the pond! We’re all rooting for you, buddy!

Bonnie

Bonnie Kelso is the author and illustrator of several books for children. Her newest release is DEXTER: THE STAND UP DOG, co-written by Kentee Pasek, and as seen on the Today Show’s Jenna & Friends. Available now.

Join me at the Southern Utah Book Festival!

| Bonnie Kelso

The Southern Utah Book Festival is back! Check it out this week with the main event on Saturday, September 20th. Plenty of author panels, book signings, and activities to delight readers of all ages. I’ll be on a picture book panel from 11 – 11:45 am with kidlit friends. Be sure not to miss the DRAW-OFF at 2pm! Hope to see you there!

Bonnie Kelso is the author and illustrator of several books for children. Her newest release is DEXTER: THE STAND UP DOG, as seen on the Today Show’s Jenna & Friends. Available now.

Dexter, The Stand-Up Dog!

| Bonnie Kelso

I am soooo excited to announce that I’ve made a new book deal with Gnome Road Publishing! Fall 2025, Dexter, The Stand-Up Dog will be releasing. You may have met Dexter through the internet, or seen him on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. He is a beautiful Brittany Spaniel who lost a leg in a car accident. He taught himself how to walk on his two hind legs. Since then, he has been delighting people all over the world with his story of patience, perseverance, and paw-sitivity!

To learn more about Dexter, check out his Instagram account @DexterDogOuray. Dexter’s owner, Kentee Pasek, and I have written the most adorable picture book and now I am starting to create the final art. I can’t wait to share some sneak peeks with you all. Go, Dexter, Gooooooo!

Bonnie

Bonnie Kelso writes and illustrates books for children and adults that encourage individualism and brave self-expression. She facilitates art workshops for her local community and beyond. Her debut picture book, NUDI GILL, released April 4, 2023. SEA SMILES, the first of a three-part series, released February 20, 2024. A lover of nature and travel, she often wanders about outside with her family whenever an excellent opportunity to do so presents itself.