Author With Cerebral Palsy Launches Kickstarter Campaign to Finance Children’s Book Project

GREEN BAY, Wis. - Oct. 28, 2014 - PRLog -- Chris Engstrom wants to educate children and their parents about the important role that service dogs play in the lives of their disabled owners. She has launched a Kickstarter fundraising campaign to finance a book project that shares her story.

The Green Bay, Wisconsin-based author wrote “Original Orik and His Important Job: A Service Dog Story” with the goal of helping people understand the relationship between owner and working pet.

“This book is unique in that I tell the story through the voice of my service dog, Orik,” said Engstrom, who has cerebral palsy. “The book uses humor to teach that everyone has strengths they can use to overcome personal challenges.”

The book is appropriate for children ages 5-8. The text is fun for adults to read to children or for school-age children to read on their own. The story goes through a typical day for some service dogs, while still explaining how much they love their job.

Kickstarter campaigns are online fundraising vehicles that offer a variety of benefits to donors depending on the amount pledged to the specific project. Engstrom plans to use funds raised through her campaign to pay for professional illustrations, copyright, editing and publishing services.

Donors can access her campaign at www.kickstarter.com/projects/2010959097/original-orik-and-his-important-job-a-service-dog. The campaign is open through November 26, 2014.

About the Author

Upon graduating high school, Chris Engstrom moved from Northern Wisconsin to Green Bay. While attending the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, she received a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Human Development.

Throughout her life, she has pursued two passions. The first involves overcoming challenges and coaching basketball. The second has included helping others overcome personal obstacles to become more resilient. She likes to work with children while helping them find their strengths.

Engstrom is nearing her goal of becoming a school counselor. In the next eighteen months, her goal is to earn certification as a school counselor and coach kids on the basketball court.

“Orik and I love being on the court,” she says. “He loves showing others how calm he can be around the ball, whistles, and all that running.”