My latest middle grade book Strays releases June 2, 2026. This book comes from a truly personal place, but all in good time on a future blog. For now, I will say this. The main character, Campbell, is desperate for someone to meet her where she is, and to see her for who she is. There’s so much power in being seen and accepted exactly the way you show up. And that’s Nubz’s story as well. On today’s Wet Nose Wednesday, we meet Nubz the chicken, who was sitting in the coop while life just passed her by. It wasn’t until Meesh, his keeper at the sanctuary, got the radical idea that maybe it was her nubby feet that was making it hard for her to take part in life on the land. In an act of sheer ingenuity, Meesh put unused dog booties on Nub’z stubby feet – and away she went. Sometimes that’s all it takes to open a world of possibility to someone who’s only limited by circumstance. As I say, animals bring so much hope, humor, love and compassion into our lives. As I continue with Wet Nose Wednesdays, I want to share heartwarming and extraordinary tales (and sometimes tails) about the greatness and inspiration of animals and the people who honor them. Let's keep making the world better. For them and for us. Even though Nubz is no longer with us, their story is featured on IG at calliope.nubz.insta.