Author of the “Doggie Tales” books, David Sargent, at center, explained story development to Heritage Elementary School students. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Children’s author David M. Sargent Jr. was a welcome guest at Heritage Elementary School on Aug. 27, but Tatum, Daphne and Rocco were the real show-stealers.

For more than 18 years, Sargent and his dogs have traveled across the United States to both amuse children and adults and promote reading and story writing.

“Children of all ages enjoy meeting the characters from his book series called ‘Doggie Tales,'” Heritage media specialist Lisa D’Antonio said. “Kids genuinely enjoy seeing the small dogs perform some of their tricks and hearing him read one his books.”

“Doggie Tails” targets very young readers. Focusing on dogs, “the books have simple text that early readers can attempt to read independently,” D’Antonio said.

“My first book, ‘Buffy’s Revenge, was written as a joke to my mom,” Sargent said. “She thought it would make a fun book. So here I am.”

Books in Sargent’s ‘Best Friends’ series are beginning chapter books. Sargent weaves a lesson on a positive character trait with each narrative about a dog.

Accompanying Sargent at Heritage were Tatum, a black-and-tan wirehaired dachshund, and Daphne, a black-and-tan longhaired dapple dachshund. He surprised the students with his new one-year-old blue merle Pomeranian pup, Rocco.

Rocco’s book will be published later this year.

Sargent’s dogs charmed the Heritage students as they performed tricks, including walking a seesaw, and getting a sneak peek of Rocco’s upcoming story. “David also read aloud his book, ‘Snake Wrangler Daphne’ to the younger grades. The upper grades were given motivation and tips for becoming writers and illustrators,” D’Antonio said.

Students had a chance to buy books, posters and bookmarks featuring the dogs. Sargent autographed each purchase.

D’Antonio schedules Sargent’s visit every few years. “It really motivates the students to read when they can meet the characters and authors of books. It’s very interesting to hear the background of how a story came about,” D’Antonio said.