My name is ROCKET.

I am a Dalmatian puppy.

This story is about

how I become

a HERO!

It’s a BIG day at the Big Red Firehouse!

“They’re here! They’re here!”shout Captain Joe and Firefighter Francie.

“The puppies are here!”1 2

Seven adorable, cuddly puppies, four boys and three girls,in every magical color of the .

The gorgeous green puppy’s name...is Rocket.

And he’s hungry ! They’re all hungry,all wiggling, all trying to find a place to eat.

When Rocket finally comes up for air, he stops and stares at his mother.She is very pretty, and very pink,

the color of cotton candy.

3

But there is something else very different about her. She has Big Black Spots!

On her face, her ears, on her stomach and legs, even on her tail.

Rocket says, “Mommy, what are those Big Black Spots all over you?”

4

But before she can answer, a Big Red Fire Truck returns to the Big Red Firehouse. And off it jumps a REALLY big, REALLY purple dog with even more Big Black Spots ! The big purple dog with the Big Black Spots says, “I’m your father. We are Dalmatians. And we have so many reasons to be proud of who we are. Dalmatians have been living and working at firehouses for more than 300 years. We help the firefighters, and protect anyone else who needs our help, including animals. We are heroes.”

But Rocket just wants to know how he can get some Big Black Spots, too. He says, “Why don’t I have Big Black Spots?” His father says quietly: “Because you have to earn them.” 5

Just then, in walks Samantha The Cat, nose in the air. Rocket stares at her. She definitely isn’t a dog ! She doesn’t LOOK like a dog. And she doesn’t SMELL like a dog.

“Who is THAT?” asks Rocket, wrinkling his nose with curiosity. His mother says, “That’s Samantha The Firehouse Cat. She works here, too, and does a very good job keeping out the mice.”

6

Suddenly, there is the LOUDEST SOUND Rocket has ever heard !

SIRENS ! ! His father’s ears stand straight up, listening. And then, like a shot, his

father runs to the fire truck.

Rocket and the puppies put their paws over their ears. Their mother says, “Don’t be frightened. The sirens mean that someone is in trouble, and your father is going to help. Your father goes with the firefighters, who are First Responders.”

“What is a First Responder?”asks Rocket. His mother says, “The first ones to get to the people who need help.”

7 8

9 10

And then, one day, it finally happens ! The SIRENS wail, and their father’s ears stand straight up, listening. He looks at Rocket. “Today, I’ll take you with me.” Rocket can’t believe his ears. He is going to be a First Responder!

“You will listen and learn,” says his father. “Do you understand?” “Yes ! ” says Rocket, ears straight up, listening hard. So his father says, “Let’s go ! ”

11

The two jump aboard the fire truck with Captain Joe and Firefighter Francie. Oh, it is exciting ! The SIRENS blare and the HORNS thunder as the truck roars out of the fire station. Rocket wants to put his paws over his ears, it is so loud, but he knows he has to be brave.“Where are we going?” he asks his father. “To Granny Grimes’ house,” says his father. “Because it’s on fire.”

12

The fire truck roars down the street ! They make turn after turn, finally stopping outside a pretty little yellow house. But it isn’t so pretty today, because the roof is on fire ! ! And Rocket, for the first time, feels the heat and smells SMOKE.13

Captain Joe leads the firefighters into

action ! They hook up water hoses. They set up ladders. And

they run into the burning house !

“What are they DOING?” cries Rocket. “The house is on fire ! ”

“They’re going to get Granny Grimes,” says

his father. “They’re here to help. They’re very brave.

That’s why they’re heroes.”

14

Granny Grimes’ neighbors gather on the street, worried. “That’s Granny Grimes’ house !” says one. “She lives alone !”

says another. “Is she inside?” says another. “We don’t know ! ”

15

As Rocket and his father watch, new SIRENS blare ! ! Rocket looks around: The noise isn’t coming from the fire trucks. No, it’s coming from a new, smaller truck, an ambulance, arriving in a big hurry ! Two people in uniform leap out, opening the back of the truck. “Who are THEY?” asks Rocket. “They’re Paramedics, and they are heroes, too,” says his father.

“The ambulance is like a little hospital, on wheels, and the Paramedics are here to help anyone hurt from the fire.”

16

And then, unbelievably, even more SIRENS blare ! ! Rocket looks around again, and sees two police cars pull up. “Who are THEY?” asks Rocket.

“They’re Police Officers,” says his father. “They’re First Responders, and heroes, too. They’re here to see that nobody else gets hurt. The Police Officers keep the people safely back from the fire, out of harm’s way.”

17

Rocket is amazed: Firefighters, and Paramedics, and Police Officers, all here to help Granny Grimes. But where IS she?

18

Just then, Captain Joe comes out of the little yellow house, carrying Granny

Grimes. “I’m all right,” she says, as the Paramedics run to help. But Rocket can see

that something is wrong. Granny Grimes is crying.

“I couldn’t find Lucy,” she says. “My darling cat, Lucy.”

19

So the firefighters run back into the house ! “There must be SOMETHING I can do to help,” thinks Rocket. The firefighters are in danger, Granny Grimes is crying, and the SMELL of the smoke is awful. And then it came to him: I know what a cat LOOKS like. And I know what a cat SMELLS like ! I could help find the cat! !

20

Rocket runs around the fire truck. No cat.

Rocket sniffs under the fire truck. No cat.

21

Rocket runs back to his father, who is standing by Granny Grimes. “I know I can help,” says Rocket. “I can SMELL cats.”

Daddy Dalmatian looks at his son.

“Listen very carefully,” he says. “Stay in the yard. Don’t go in the house. If you find the cat, come tell me.”

22

Rocket runs off, sniffing in the backyard. No cat. He circles the house. Not a cat in sight. But when he gets back to the street, he stops in his tracks.

That SMELL ! There it is ! But where is the cat?

And then, when he looks up, he sees Lucy The Cat, hiding high up in the branches of an old oak tree. “Come down!” cries Rocket. “I can’t,” says Lucy The Cat. “I’m scared!” Rocket thinks hard. Then he says, “Lucy, I’m your friend and friends help each other. So I’ll come up!”23

And he tries and tries. But no matter how hard he tries, Rocket can’t climb the tree, and falls in a heap. “You have to come down!” calls Rocket. “I’ve climbed up too high!” says Lucy The Cat, clinging to the limb. Rocket has to find a way to help the cat.

But HOW? What would a

First Responder do? He needs a ladder! !

24

Rocket runs back to the fire truck, where Firefighter Francie is grabbing another fire hose.He barks at her: “Come with me!” But she doesn’t understand, and continues with her work, which is putting out the fire.25

Suddenly, Rocket remembers his father’s instructions: “If you find the cat, come tell me.”

Rocket runs back to his father and Granny Grimes. “I found the cat ! ! ” says Rocket.

“But she’s up in a tree ! And I need a ladder! ! ” 26

Just then, Captain Joe and the firefighters come out of the house, looking sad. They put out the fire, but have to tell Granny Grimes that they couldn’t find the cat.27

Rocket runs to Captain Joe, pulling his pants leg. “What is it, boy?” asks Captain Joe. Rocket pulls and pulls.

And his father BARKS, encouraging them both. Captain Joe says, “Okay, show me ! ” And

Rocket pulls Captain Joe to the tree, and BARKS, looking up at the cat.

28

“There you are, Lucy ! ” calls Captain Joe, finally smiling again. “Don’t worry. We’ll have you down in no time.” Captain Joe gets a ladder,

and climbs higher and higher. But the cat won’t budge.

“Come on, Lucy,” says Captain Joe. “Granny Grimes needs you.” But still, the cat won’t budge.

Then Rocket says, “Lucy, Captain Joe is here to help you. I couldn’t climb the tree but he can ! He saved Granny Grimes and he’ll save you. He won’t let you fall.” The cat considers, and then, finally, walks carefully back down the limb to the trunk of the tree, and into the arms of Captain Joe. “I’ve got you,” he says.

29 30

Captain Joe takes the cat to Granny Grimes, whose face lights up with joy. “Where did you find her?” she cries. “It was this little guy, Rocket, the newest member of our First Responders team,” he says, smiling. “He found Lucy.”

31

“Thank you, Rocket,” she says, hugging the cat. “I can replace the house, but I can’t replace my darling Lucy. You are my hero.” Rocket looks to his father, who is very pleased.

32

Then Rocket looks around, and sees that the neighbors are bringing hot coffee and cakes to all the First Responders.

“What are they doing?” Rocket asks his father.

“They’re honoring the work of the First Responders,” says his father. “They’re thanking them for their service, and their bravery.”33

Rocket walks slowly back to the fire truck with his father. After all the excitement, he’s really pooped !And all the way home, he sits on Captain Joe’s lap, very tired, but happy. “Good job, Rocket,” says Captain Joe, patting his head.

34

And when they jump off the truck, Rocket goes to his mother.

She sits up very straight, staring at him. “I’m so proud of you, Rocket,” she says softly.

35

“I know everything I need to know,” says his mother, “because you’ve

earned your FIRST spot.”

“How did you know?” asks Rocket.

“I haven’t even told you about the fire,

or Granny Grimes, or Lucy the Cat.”

36

Rocket runs to the firehouse mirror to see - and there it is: big, and black, and magnificent. His very first Big Black Spot, right there on his face ! The other puppies crowd around him, proud of him, admiring him. “I want some Big Black Spots, too! ” they say.

Rocket can’t wait to earn more.

37 38

I

WANTS TO KNOW...

Who is your HERO?

II

WANTS TO KNOW...

What can you do to

become aHERO?

III

WANTS TO KNOW...

Have you ever been a

HERO?

What else could ROCKETdo to get

more spots?

WANTS TO KNOW...

What was your

favorite part

of the book?

IV

About the BOOK PUBLISHERS...BUNNI AND RICK BENARON are the publishers of “R. HERO”, A Dog’s Tail TALE, and provide the financial support for the “R. HERO” project and the vision of a “Dalmatian-Nation”. THE “R. HERO” project gives them an opportunity to share their experience and creativity and most of all to give back andpay it forward.

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ABOUT “R. HERO”

After the emotional impact of 9/11, artists Karen & Tony Barone created “R. HERO” sculptures to honor Firefighters, First

Responders, our Heroes in Uniform in service to our nation, and Everyday Heroes. “R. HERO” sculptures were conceived as public art for fire and police stations, children’s hospitals, children’s museums

and other public venues. “R. HERO” sculptures are individually handcrafted and through the creative and instructive expression of art serve as a reminder of the sacrifices of these heroic individuals.

The philanthropic generosity of Bunni and Rick Benaron’s donations of the “R. HERO” sculptures is bringing to reality the meaningful mission and dream of the artists to create a “Dalmatian-Nation”.

For more visit: R-HERO.org

“R. HERO” Sculpture Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert

Rancho Mirage, CA

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This Book and the “R. Hero” Sculptures are DEDICATED TO OUR NATION’S HEROES

MANY THANKS TO THOSE WHO MADE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS BOOK:Deborah Starr Seibel • Robin Murphy • Matt Walen

Buster Watts • Peter PalladinoUniversity of California, Riverside

Copyright © 2014 Bunni and Rick Benaron

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage

and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright holders.

Book Design by Karen & Tony BaroneFirst Edition: 2014

Printed in USA

ISBN: 978-1-4951-2164-7

R-HERO.org

The “R. HERO” character is based on original copyrightedartwork and sculptures by artists Karen & Tony Barone

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