Samantha Shannon

Samantha Shannon is a best-selling children's book author and licensed educational counselor known for her Jake the Growling Dog picture book series. Ms. Shannon uses her background in education, love for nature and animals, and experience aiding in the healthy social-emotional development of children to create fun, impactful, and award-winning books. With Samantha's background in educational counseling, Jake's stories focus on fun while also including important socio-emotional and character topics such as: friendship, kindness, mindfulness, diversity and inclusion, gratitude, sharing, disability awareness & loving-kindness, and more. Each story includes fun and impactful activities for children, families, schools, and counselors centering on pure childhood fun, the topics touched on in the book, and encouraging creativity and imagination. Jake's stories speak to all of us about accepting and appreciating the differences in others—both caring attitudes we need in our diverse and beautiful world. When Samantha had her first child in 2009, she wanted to write a picture book based on her sister's dog, Jake. While visiting her sister in the Pacific Northwest, Samantha realized that Jake growled all the time. He growled while playing frisbee, getting an ear rub, running, and even when he was sleeping! Despite his unusual choice of noisemaking, Jake is a sweet dog, which makes him the perfect character for a children's picture book. Samantha's love for creatures great and small has led her to incorporate animals in all of the books—from eagles to cheetahs! Throughout her life, Samantha's family has always included a dog, and they've always been more than pets. They were fur-brothers, sisters, and babies. Samantha has also published multiple books under her pen name, Parker Sinclair, in the fantasy and YA genres.