Rudy: A Big Horse With a Big Heart is a children's book that chronicles Diane's first year with Rudy told by Rudy. He takes readers on a journey through the high’s and low’s as he and Diane begin to work together, learn to trust each other, and eventually develop a deep bond. Readers are exposed to how horses think, the emotions they feel, and what goes into training a horse from both the human and horse perspective. Along the way, Rudy makes friends, bravely learns how to go on trail rides, and discovers water can be fun instead of frightening. Readers will be thrilled when Rudy and two other horses step over the paddock fence freeing themselves. Rudy’s charismatic personality will capture children’s hearts and make them long to know “what happens next?”

ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTORS

Writing served as an outlet for Diane Robbins Jones since she was young. Over the years, she amassed multiple journals containing poetry, song lyrics, and hundreds of pages for a memoir she plans on releasing, "when the time is right."

Like many, Jones has a bucket list. Publishing a book has been on it for quite a while. The "universe" apparently thought she needed a nudge--enter Rudy. As she likes to say, "I didn't pick Rudy, Rudy picked me."

After working together for a year, something clicked in Jones. A story started flowing through her, begging to be shared. As she reflected on what she knew of Rudy's life, she began seeing parallels between things he'd gone through and things children go through. The two have more in common than one would think.

Jones' goals for writing Rudy: A Big Horse with a Big Heart was to have kids fall in love with Rudy, and make him relatable by sharing his emotions. At the same time, Jones wanted to educate children about horses.

Jones lives in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. She is an animal lover, and passionate about protecting the environment. She frequently enjoys her time off in northern Vermont and is an avid downhill skier. Jones travels extensively in both the United States and abroad.

Karen Busch Holman is a fine artist and children’s book illustrator. Her equine art has been selected for a number of national shows, and she has illustrated more than a dozen children’s books. Schools treasure Karen’s passion as she teaches drawing skills to young children. She lives with her husband, two sons, and a lively collection of farm animals, including her beloved horses, Hwin and Little Bear, in Barrington, New Hampshire.