Berkeley, California

Moritz has moved to Berkeley while Barry works on a documentary. City life, at first, seemed stressful but after a few weeks he adapted. Now he has his favorite parking meters, lampposts and trees, and knows the walk to work each day. He continues to be a humble ambassador of goodwill. Daily on our journey through downtown Berkeley someone will stop to greet him, or smile, laugh, or utter a surprised “Oh my!”

He has become a member of our work team and has received the 2010 Gunie Award (see story below).

Moritz is the most abiding presence on the Guna Foundation team. Even when disagreements arise in staff meetings, he remains sprawled out contemplatively on the studio floor, teaching us how to rest calmly (and snore occasionally) amidst conflict. But between naps, he is an extremely capable networker, sniffing out unseen opportunities and shrewdly deploying his adorability to create valuable connections for Guna.

Moritz wins the Gunie for social networking, despite his sub-par keyboarding skills.

Go to www.gunafoundation.org for more info about Moritz and the Guna Foundation's work.

Dear Barry:

Although I have all your books I am ashamed to realize that I never wrote to let other people know how heart-warming these books are, and what wonderful teaching tools.

When I got the newest book, Moments of Wonder, I was again so moved by these inspiring stories. What is so special is that, by simple descriptions of what Moritz does, we receive a perfect model of the virtues we all want. Books for children and young people tend to tell them what to do. Here we instead get to taste the experience of being in the state we want--no preaching--and feel motivated to continue the same. Children relate to animals so well as animals don't tell them how to behave. Moritz shows us how to naturally expand into wonder.

Thank you for opening the wonder of the moment.

Frances Strassman, Organizing consultant

Close

Juneau, Alaska

Paige Merriam, the librarian of Gastineau Elementary School invited Moritz and me to come to Juneau, Alaska to visit the schools.

We flew to Juneau (you can only fly or take a boat) with Moritz as a passenger by my side. This was his first voyage in an airplane cabin. He nonchalantly passed through the electronic security devices without his collar or leash, sat down and awaited me and then drew a crowd of security guards who wanted to pet him and ask “who is he?”

On board he laid down, except for the take off, where he sat up to look out the window. We were fortunate to have a seatmate who liked Moritz and allowed him some extra room by his feet.

We spent 3 ½ days visiting schools and the library. The teachers and children were delighted to meet Moritz and hear his stories. Moritz was his usual calm self, taking all the petting and attention with tolerance and his tale wagging.

Paige cared for us, taking us on hikes, walks and visits to the snow (especially appreciated).

Moritz made the adjustment to Alaska as if he lived there all his life.

By the time we left the word had spread about Moritz. We were often stopped walking in the city or at the airport with people wanted to know if this was Moritz and then telling their stories to us. Thank you Paige, all the schools, the library and the friendly folks in Juneau.

Close

Victor, Montana

Seven years ago, while making the rounds at Community Medical Center in Missoula, Moritz and I visited a young woman who had been thrown from a horse and landed on her head. The injury caused paralysis in her legs. I remembered her as someone who remained positive, cheerful and determined. I wanted to include her in our first book Nose to Nose. However, I was unable find her again.

Before Christmas we were giving a presentation at the Darby Public Library. I walked to the car to carry in some books and around the corner of a parked van came a woman in a wheelchair. She looked at Moritz and me and began laughing.

"So there you are!" I shouted.
"Hello!" she replied, "I've come to see Moritz. I can't stay long but I want to touch and look at him."

I asked her for her email address.

A few days later I wrote her asking what was it about Moritz.

She replied: It was good to see you and Moritz, too. On the way home I got to thinking what it was about Moritz that made such a difference and realized that although it's hard to put into words, he just made me feel that it was going to be alright. That's the best I can do but it just scratches the surface of how he really made me feel.

Elaine Ward, Victor, Montana

Close

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Review of "Moments of Wonder: Life with Moritz"

Writing's great, illustrations are wonderful, and the stories are heartwarming and inspirational. Shows what one big dog and his companion - both with big hearts - can do by reaching out to others. Deep bows to great work Barry and Moritz are doing. A read for all ages.

Zigster, Halifax, Nova Scotia

Close

Lugano, Switzerland

The International Women’s Club of Lugano, Switzerland invite Moritz and Barry for a presentation. June 2, 2009.

Close

Karatu, Tanzania

Dear Parents,

As you may have heard or read, Jack (8th grader) and I just spent 4 weeks in Tanzania. For 3 of those weeks we were volunteering at an orphanage in Northern Tanzania about an hour outside the town of Karatu near the Ngorongoro Crater.

Before I left, I asked the orphanage to send the names of children about the same age as the children in Mrs. Lara's class. I came into class and your children all wrote letters to children at the orphanage. I also took a photo of each of your children and laminated it.

Jack and I then hand delivered the letters and photos to the Tanzanian children. I wish you could have all been there to see them. These children could not believe that they each had 2 letters from American children with a PHOTO as well. They were kissing the photos and, of course, could not wait to write their new "pen pals" back.

They almost all have the neatest handwriting possible and all had plenty of information and questions to write back to your children. One of the girls wanted to include the name of her favorite book. So she ran over to the bookshelf (which was packed with books) and pulled out the book, "A Gift to Share". This brought tears to my eyes. You may or may know or remember that the author of this book, Barry Schieber, and his dog Moritz came into Mrs. Lara's class last October! Of all the books—she picked out a book that our children have not only read, but also met the author and the star of the book!

What a miraculous connection!

Louisa Schibli, Vermont

Close

Tibet, China

Silent Moon Books donates a portion of the proceeds from the sale of all Moritz books to animal welfare projects.

This year we have selected the Animal Liberation Project from Prajna Light Foundation. A few years ago Moritz and I met Lama Palzang and Pema Gellek. Upon seeing Moritz Lama Palzang just beamed and asked if he could walk him to the restaurant where we were going to breakfast. As we sat down he began to tell me his love for animals and the importance of saving them. He had helped raise a blind sheep while in Tibet and his teacher taught the benefits of not harming or taking any life. He knew part of his life’s work would be to help animals.

I recently met with them again and learned of their work to save yaks that were headed to the slaughterhouse.

Their dedication inspired me and I would like to help them continue and expand their work.

Learn more about the Animal Liberation Project and how you can help »

Close