The Deer with the Purple Nose is about two English Setter dogs, Rusty and Purdy, who solve a mystery. Rusty and Purdy came from "Last Chance Rescue" in Howell, Michigan and enjoy the back yard. Told in the first person by Purdy, the story begins with Dottie the Deer appearing with a purple nose. Purdy asks Dottie how her nose became purple. She responds that it is not purple and goes off into the woods. A discussion ensues with Bobby the Blue Jay and Terry the Tufted Titmouse. What's wrong with Dottie? They are interrupted by a cry from Spencer the Sparrow at the birdfeeder with Chip the Chipmunk (a spectacular photograph any photographer would be proud of). Spencer wants Purdy to get the chipmunk off the birdfeeder so he can eat. The story continues with discussions with other birds. Carol the Cardinal provides a clue followed by another clue from Greta the Groundhog. Rusty and Purdy go to the side yard where Rocky the Racoon announces Dottie's arrival at the berry tree. The surprise ending is a delight to children. A fun warning about berry trees and a recipe are a bonus (not part of the story).
The book is all photographs with a glossary in back with all ten birds in the story. A bibliography is also provided for teachers and home schoolers who wish additional information on the birds. There is also a "Where the Book Came From" page telling the background story of how the book came about. Reading level is second/third grade and is recommended for reading to young children. It is a good choice for early readers who can be encouraged to find the birds in their own yard. Some people have purchased the hard cover version for their coffee table because of the photography in the book. Others find the ten-bird glossary a big help in identifying common birds in the back yard as opposed to a guide with hundreds of birds to choose from. This book is one of the "Rusty & Purdy Backyard Bird Adventure" books. Each is independent so they are not numbered. A goal of the book is to interest children in the outdoors--birds in particular; and also, to create an interest in reading by having excitement on each turn of the page.
Award winning photographer Wayne L. Brillhart has been taking pictures most of his life - from the sunsets of California to the Himalaya Mountains of Tibet to his own back yard in Hartland, Michigan. It was a photograph taken in his back yard that sparked his enthusiasm to write a book for children to interest them in the out-of-doors called "The Mystery at the Birdfeeder". "The Deer with the Purple Nose" followed when Brillhart got a photograph of a deer with a purple nose. Then there were the HUGE footprints over ten feet apart in the winter of 2013-2014 that became "The Bigfoot Mystery". Brillhart's focus on photographs is intended to make the stories truly "real".
As a graphic designer and consultant, books are Karen McDiarmid's specialty and passion. She has helped authors publish books ranging from detailed scientific publications to photographic coffee table books, to children's picture books. Many of the books she has been a part of have won prestigious awards and have become New York Times best-sellers. She loves her job and love's helping authors tell their story! Her work for "The Deer with the Purple Nose" included the highly praised cover design plus the graphic design for the author's photographs and script.
