Meet Sam. Sam is our beloved Labrador Retriever, who stole our hearts the moment we laid eyes on him. After lots of training, the day has finally arrived. Sam is anxious to make his grand debut on his first ever duck hunt! He's proud to finally show off his retrieving skills and his owner is beyond proud as well. Sam's First Duck Hunt not only portrays the pure joy and excitement of an incredible first duck hunt for Sam, but also the amazing relationship between man and man's best friend.
The Sam Series is inspired by some of my husband and Sam's real experiences duck hunting. I want to thank Tim Williams, the illustrator, for the hours he spent making this book not only accurate, but bringing my vision to life with every special detail to showcase Sam, my husband, and my husband's friends. I want to give a special thank you as well to the Haas family and Haas Outdoors for believing in the mission of this series, and allowing me to use Mossy Oak's Original Bottomland Camo for the series. As a girl who grew up in the Deep South wearing Mossy Oak, this is a dream come true for me to have their support.
This book has truly been a labor of love and it's the first of many. We hope Sam's First Duck Hunt truly warms your hearts as much as ours.
Sara Lavender Burkhalter is a business woman by day and author by night. However, she is first and foremost a wife and mother. With a background in education and literature, combined with her career as a co-owner of a construction company based out of the southern United States, she's extremely diverse. She wants her work to speak not only to children, but also more mature readers. This is a connection she feels is lacking today in children's books. Her children's books are also very unique, ranging from a series designed with mom and grandmothers in mind, to a series about their Labrador Retriever's adventures outdoors and the bond between father and child, to a series that supports the blue-collar workers of America. All of her children's books are about her family and inspired by their real experiences. She hopes the authenticity of her work creates a beautiful experience for readers. As Sara has said many times, "When a child connects with a book, it's special. But when a book resonates with an adult and child together, it's extraordinary."
