Today we’re celebrating the Book Birthday of Promise Pets: The Adopt-A-Pup Plan,
by #1 NYT Bestselling author Stacia Deutsch,
illus. by Heather Burns, a Build-a-Bear Workshop/ Odd Dot / Macmillan publication.
About the Book:
Celeste and Charles convince their parents to adopt a puppy! What child hasn’t dreamed about this day? They agree on a name: Baseball Stardust — perfect, right? But caring for a dog isn’t as easy as it seems. When Charles starts slacking off, puppy-care is left to Celeste. Hmmm… will the siblings learn the true meaning of responsibility? We love this tail-wagging tale that shows readers the best promises are the ones we keep.
(This one’s for you, parents, AND your kids!)
About the Author:
#1 NYT bestselling author STACIA DEUTSCH has written 300+ books including her award-winning chapter book series Blast to the Past, titles in the Girls Who Code series & Spirit Riding Free series, plus junior movie tie-in novels for films auch as Ghostbusters, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and The Smurfs. Stacia lives in Temecula, California, with her husband, a few horses, and two dogs.
Let’s ask some Questions!
The Build-a-Bear Connection
Q 1. We love the idea of Promise Pets. Can you take us through the process of this kind of project? How did you get connected with Build-a-Bear and Odd Dot? Was Promise Pets their initial concept?
Stacia Deutsch: I have a really cool door into publishing. After selling an original novel series, Blast to the Past, about 20 years ago (yikes), the editor asked if I wanted to try my hand at writing Nancy Drew.
That well-known book series opened a door to me for licensed publishing. Now, I write a lot of books that publishers need, often based on beloved characters.
A Labor of Love
Promise Pets is a book Macmillan brought to me as part of their partnership with Build-A-Bear. They had a very vague idea that they wanted something to tie into the brand’s contract for adopting a pet – and I took it from there.
I created the characters and the plot. This was a labor of love and I am thrilled to see it in print.
Shhh… Don’t Tell Stacia’s Daughter!
Q 2. How did you come up with the story line? Were you the kid who always wanted a dog and couldn’t have one? Or is this a tiny bit autobiographical in any way?
Stacia Deutsch: Oh, I hope my daughter doesn’t read this…when she was in high school, she convinced me and her step-dad that she needed a dog. She did all the research, found the dog, and we drove to a farm to get it. She brought that dog home on her lap.
The minute we got to the house, she left the dog with me and raced up to her bedroom. I don’t think my daughter came back down that night. At least that’s how I recall it. She graduated, went to college, and although the dog is still “hers,” it’s also mine.
Promise Pets came from that experience…and makes me laugh every time I think of those first days with a new dog. Also, the dog’s name in the book is based on a convention that my mom started where every one of my three kids got to provide a name to the dog she adopted – she used them all for that one dog.
ED Note: Hahaha — I knew Baseball Stardust would have a back story! Also– our “daughter’s dog” became mine after one very sleepless night. But where were we?
Surprises and Takeaways
Q 3. What surprises did illustrator Heather Burns bring to the book?
Stacia Deutsch: Heather’s art is incredible. She really captured the story and the spread when the kids go to the shelter is masterful. Go check that one out. It’s great for a laugh.
My author pal and good friend, Lauren H. Kerstein did a read for me when it was a draft and I feel Lauren all over that page. I mean…the word “slobbery,” was a gift and Heather ran with it.
(Build-a-Bear Workshop / Odd Dot / Macmillan)
Q 4. What do you hope readers will take away from Promise Pets?
Stacia Deutsch: Adopting a pet isn’t easy. There are a lot of responsibilities that come with the commitment.
I hope that young readers take finding a pet seriously and that when they do adopt, they go into it with their eyes open. I am grateful to be able to tell this story.
What’s Next?
Q 5. Are there more projects in the queue that you can share?
Stacia Deutsch: I’m carrying a very full slate right now. I have a multi-path branching picture book called Which Way Adventures: Super Spy and the Poodle Party Problem, coming soon. I wrote that text with my son, who worked on Nickelodeon’s Baby Shark. We have two more in that series under development.
We are also releasing Batman multi-path books later this year.
On my own, I am working on a Shrek novelization, a biography of Jackie Robinson, a couple of different Hanukkah themed projects, and shhhh….something top secret. Looking forward to 2026!
ED Note: WOW! We’re amazed and thrilled to have you on the blog today, Stacia.
And –Oooh –we love top secret, can’t-tell-you-yet book teasers! Congrats!
Here’s wishing a PAWSitively Happy Book Birthday to:
Promise Pets: The Adopt-A-Pup Plan
To learn more about Stacia Deutsch and her books, visit her website
and check out her socials:
Instagram @Staciadeutsch_writes
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/staciawrites.bsky.social
Facebook staciadeutsch
Threads: Staciadeutsch_writes
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sfdeutsch/
Up next on the blog:
We’re celebrating the Book Birthday of
Shannon Hitchcock’s new mg ghost story,
Wild Mountain Ivy.
(Carolrhoda Books)
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