Letter to: Parents, Educators, Librarians, Daycare Administrators, Pediatric Hospitals, and Doctors’ Offices
Subject: Empower Young Readers to Shape a Stronger Future
Dear Educators, Parents, and Caregivers:
Are you seeking a resource that strengthens young minds amid today’s shifting cultural landscape?
We believe that the elementary years are critical in reversing troubling trends. We created Pets to the Rescue: A Cousin Crew Series, a delightful collection of books for readers ages 7–10 that addresses these issues. Book One, Apple Butter Adventure, is endorsed by Dr. Gary Chapman, author of The 5 Love Languages of Children.
As the Cousin Crew and their loyal pets stumble into mysteries, mishaps, and moments of courage, foundational values and lessons that are fading from modern childhood are revived:
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Reverence for authority
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Faith in God and the importance of prayer
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Appreciation for family
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Responsibility, sharing, and empathy
In contrast to the screen-heavy lifestyles many children lead, our characters dive into wholesome, life-affirming activities—gardening, horseback riding, woodland walks, and warm conversations with Grannie—plus the occasional macaroni and cheese mishap that teaches about laughter, humility, and thinking through actions and their effects on others.
Educational Benefits:
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Thoughtfully written using grade-appropriate vocabulary to support literacy development
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Integrates character education seamlessly into engaging stories
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Inspires children to balance outdoor play, real-world exploration, and grounded learning
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Glossary and life lessons included
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Why It Matters—Now More Than Ever
The need for strong reading tools has never been greater. Recent studies show that elementary reading scores have fallen to historic lows, particularly among struggling students. Improving literacy at this stage is vital to ensuring stronger outcomes for students. Read more here.
Research shows a worrisome decline not only in children’s performance but also in adults. According to the 2023 Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies
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American adults ages 16–65 saw a 12-point drop in literacy and a 7-point drop in numeracy since 2017
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The percentage of adults scoring at or below the lowest levels rose to 28% in literacy (up from 19%) and 34% in numeracy (up from 29%)
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Gaps are widening: top performers maintain their skills while those at the lower end fall further behind, creating a “dwindling middle” of skill levels. Read more here.
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These findings underscore that literacy erosion spans generations—and highlight an urgent need to build a solid foundation in our youngest learners. If we invest in literacy and values during the elementary years, we’ll improve the reading scores of a generation.
We would love the opportunity to share more with you about how Pets to the Rescue, A Cousin Crew Series, can be a valuable resource in your classroom or library. Please get in touch with Lisa or Jennifer at the email addresses below.
With your dedication, we can equip children with the literacy skills and life lessons needed for a bright future.
Warm regards,
Lisa M. Pritchard Lisampritchard1@gmail.com
Jennifer E. Tirrell Writewithjet@gmail.com