South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

Bagle the Basset-Beagle helps children and adults with social-emotional learning

The book features positive affirmations and messages
Bagle+reads+Bagle+the+Basset-Beagle+by+Kim+Duerr.
Photo by Kim Duerr
Bagle reads “Bagle the Basset-Beagle” by Kim Duerr.

South County resident and Lindbergh School District alum Kim Duerr recently published her first book “Basset-Beagle named Bagle” in an effort to spread positivity and affirming messages to people of all ages.

The book features several sections, with each meant to appeal to different ages. The first section is a picture book featuring Bagle, Duerr’s dog. The photos and short text throughout are used to help with social-emotional learning for children. Duerr said it should allow parents who aren’t sure how to relay positive messages to children in ways they could understand.

“The idea with Bagle is that the affirmations allow you to be the person you want to be. A child can’t just be told they’re smart or ‘I’m proud of you,’ they have to believe it for themselves,” Duerr said.

Duerr said the usage of Bagle as the focus allowed for a race, age and gender-neutral aspect of the book, meaning anyone could read and see themselves in the pages.

The next section of the book features a quick-list of affirmations and photos of Bagle people can read and use for positive thoughts.

The last section of the book features 23 affirmation paragraphs which are meant for teens to adults, or adults to read with children. Duerr said while some of the wording might be difficult for kids to understand, the messages are still meant to appeal to any age.

Duerr began working on the book around two years ago for her friend’s children. Their father passed away in February 2020, prompting Duerr to help the family however she could.

“I wanted something to do for the children because that was just so much to manage. I started by just saying ‘I am just like my dad,’ ‘I am kind’ — all of the things he was or anyone would want their children to be,” Duerr said.

After finishing the book, Duerr said she realized the messages within could be helpful to anyone, causing her to look into the publishing process and begin talks with an illustrator.

Duerr said she has a couple other ideas in the works for future projects with similar positive messages.

The first time author is hosting several meet-and-greet book signings coming up. The first is Friday, June 24 from 7 to 8 p.m. at Spine Bookstore and Cafe, 1976 Arsenal Street, followed by another Saturday, June 25 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Kirkwood Community Center, 111 S. Geyer Road, for the Fourth Annual Women’s Expo. Another book signing will take place Sunday, June 26 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Pet Supplies Plus, 5422 Southfield Center in Concord.  

The book can be purchased at https://www.affirmationdog.com.

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