Hugzbie's Christmas Adventure

 While we hope that this adorable and fun book will be enjoyed by many children, the larger objective is to help support families in need at St. Jude's Children's Hospital as 100% of the proceeds are donated to them. Read to learn more about Hugzbie's wild ride to New York City on the Christmas tree selected for Rockefeller Square where he learns about friendship and himself. Hugzbie's Christmas Adventure demonstrates the author's wonderful legacy of giving to others.

Oh, my!! What an unexpected adventure for Hugzbie, the curious little hedgehog, that would take him from his quiet country home near a Christmas tree farm to the center of a very big city full of excitement.  As he moves through his journey, Hugzbie learns the meaning of friendship, and most of all, a deep appreciation for his own dear family.

My name is Mary Shepherd and I have worked with children almost my whole life. From babysitting to nursing school and then to the pediatric care unit in 1981 as an RN at age 19. I loved every minute caring for children. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1999 and went through surgery and chemotherapy and continued to work. I decided to stop work in 2004 to be home with my children with plan to go back. However God had a different plan for me. I was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer in 2006, even with that I had plans to go back to work. As time moved forward I realized that the ever changing treatment and scans would not allow that to happen. After my children were old enough to fend for themselves I still wanted to make a difference in children's lives so I decided to write a children's story with proceeds to go to non-profit children's hospitals. It was the perfect solution, I could work on it during days I felt good and put it down when I didn't. It is my deepest hope that the book will bring a smile to the children's faces and the proceeds will continue to help support children's hospitals.