April 2003

In an animated tale of a mule, Meredith Schulz Hodges pays tribute to her father, renowned cartoonist and "Peanuts" creator Charles M. Schulz. Through his encouragement she turned her love for mules into the children's story Jasper: The Story of a Mule. Having trained mules for more than 25 years, Hodges has a remarkable affection for them.

The book also pays homage to the story of Black Beauty as Jasper the mule and nine other characters learn life's lessons through a whimsical, yet reality-based story. The underlying theme is that how people percieve animals and care for them greatly reflects how they live their lives in general.

Readers will meet such memorable characters as outspoken young Kylie, Jasper's first owner, joyous Jasper and his mother Belle, Moxie the playful puppy, the no-nonsense Mr. Chaney, Jasper's horse pals Jigger and Molly, and many other friends, all drawn by renowned Tennessee mule artist Bonnie Shields. More than 250 full-color illustrated pages are featured in Jasper.