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For more than 30 years, Meredith Hodges, the daughter of cartoonist and Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz, has worked with, trained and cared for mules and donkeys. Meredith grew up in a world of adorable beagles (like Snoopy!), interesting birds and lovable horses.
Now, Meredith has just translated her love of animals into a book for kids: Jasper: The Story of a Mule. Meredith wrote the book largely in response to her dad's wishes. TFK Kid Reporter Daniel Bonner met with Hodges about her love of animals, the message behind her book, Peanuts and what it was like to have such a famous father.

TFK: What was the inspiration for your book, Jasper: The Story of a Mule?
Hodges: I started a column, called Mule Crossing, that was about mules. Then, I started writing educational materials on how to train mules and how to treat mules, so that people would know about it. My dad kept saying, "Why don't you get out of this educational thing and write a kid's book?" About three and a half years ago, he died, and I wrote the last of my educational books. Now it was time for me to do what he asked me to do: Write a children's book.

TFK: How did you get involved with animals as a child?
Hodges: We always had a lot of animals around. I particularly liked horses and, of course, tugged on my parents until they bought me one. We also had beagles, who were named Snoopy and Spike. Unfortunately, Snoopy was mean and bit us so we had to give him away! We've always had animals in the family and a great love for them.

TFK: How did you develop your love for donkeys and mules?
Hodges: I didn't come to know donkeys and mules until 1973, when my mother started a mule ranch in California, and she started raising mules there because she loved them as a child. She needed someone to train the mules for her, and she asked me to do that. It was within three months that I fell in love with them.
Mules love people! Mules, when you look at them in a field, they have to come and see you. They love people. They're kind, affectionate and warm. You can actually establish a friendship and relationship with them, and they respond like your best friend. Kind of like dogs, I guess you'd say.

TFK: What was it like growing up with a father who created Peanuts?
Hodges: We didn't really have the sense that he was a famous person. He was just a regular dad, and these were funny pictures that he drew. He drew pictures for us of all the characters when we were just little kids, and each one of the characters, in kind of a broad sense, represented each one of his five kids. I was "Lucy". My two brothers were "Linus" and "Pigpen".

TFK: Did he ever suggest that he wanted his children to follow in his footsteps?
Hodges: We did discuss that, but unfortunately none of us have the drawing talent that he did. He just told us, "Well, pursue your own dreams, do whatever it is you're good at, stay focused on that and you will be successful."

TFK: What do you think kids can learn from animals?
Hodges: There are a lot of things kids can learn from animals. Animals depend on humans for their entire life. Having an animal teaches a child how to care for someone else. They wouldn't know that. Their parents are caring for them, but when you're a kid, you can learn how to care for someone else by caring for an animal.

TFK: What is the message that you'd like kids to take away from this book?
Hodges: The main message is that no matter how tough life gets, you should follow your dreams and no matter how discouraged you get, keep following them. If you get diverted from the path, keep trying to go back to it, because eventually there is the chance that your dreams will come true.

TFK: Do you have any tips for aspiring writers?
Hodges: Write about what you know about. Write about your own life experiences, because nobody knows them better than you do.