Today I am happy to share my interview with Michal Babay, author of I’M A GLUTEN-SNIFFING SERVICE DOG, illustrated by Ela Smietanka. We have bonded over dogs, writing, children, and our Judaism. As you’ll see she’s incorporated all of those things into her recent release and her newly announced book. So happy for both of these books.
Michal is offering one lucky winner a copy of her book, I’M A GLUTEN-SNIFFING SERVICE DOG, illustrated by Ela Smietanka.
What were you like at the age of your target audience?
I loved stuffed animals, dolls, books, and (of course) dogs! I used to hide under the table with a pile of books and our family dog. It was my special cave of books and joy!
What inspires you?
I love finding the funny in everyday life. No matter how difficult or scary a situation may be, I’m always able to find something absurdly amusing. It may be completely unfunny to anyone else, but that’s ok. Just knowing I can make myself laugh inspires me to keep going, no matter what life has decided to throw in my path.
What do you hope readers take away from your book?
My big hope for this book is that readers understand how serious this autoimmune disease actually is. I also hope readers understand how essential, but terribly difficult, it is for people with celiac disease to stay 100% gluten free for their entire life.
What can we look forward to next?
I just announced a new book with Charlesbridge, illustrated by the fabulous Paula Cohen. It’s called The Incredible Shrinking Lunchroom, and it’s a modern revision of the classic Yiddish folktale It Could Always Be Worse. My version is a wild adventure that takes place in chaotic lunchroom of Parley Elementary. I also have another project in the works that I can’t wait to announce in the future!
To connect with Michal and learn more about her books:
Twitter @MicBabay, Instagram @micbabay, website Michalbabay.com
Laura Roettiger Books 
Gluten free, nut free, peanut free, dairy free — cooking for kids, relatives, friends with all sorts of allergies, I appreciate this topic!
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Elizabeth, thanks for reading. Yes, cooking for people with dietary restrictions is such an important and tricky subject. I’m personally obsessed with the service dog aspect of this story because I’ve seen how much they can change a life.
Thanks for reading and good luck in the giveaway!
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So tricky to keep everyone safe while cooking, but so important! I’m sure all the kids, relatives, friends, etc. really appreciate your care and love. Thank you for reading!
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I had a cave under the table like that too when I was a kid 🙂 I love this book–hope everyone gets a chance to read it too!
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Thanks for reading! And yes, to reading in a cozy space. I’m excited for this book and so is Charlie. Good luck in the giveaway.
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Thank you, Fleur! I love that you had a cave under the table too. Such a perfect place to read and be cozy.
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This book is already on my TO READ list. And, as one who very much appreciates the human-canine connection, I’m happy to see this book make it’s way into world!
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“ITS” way into the world! My apologies for not proof-reading!!!
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Sadly comments on WP are like Twitter without the ability to edit. 😉
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Yes, you know how strong my canine and I are bonded 🥰 and I truly love the story behind Chewie! Thanks for reading and good luck in the giveaway.
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Yay! Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoy the book. The human-canine connection is so special.
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What a lovely story. Can we train a service dog to sniff out gluten? Would love to do that!!
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Thanks for reading. Michal can share more about the details of training, but we also have a mutual friend who just got her service dog and much of the training happened with a professional before she joined the family. Thanks for reading, good luck in the giveaway.
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Hi Janet, thank you for reading! It’s a big commitment to train a service dog to check for gluten, so it really would depend on how much time and energy you’re willing to commit. It took over a year for Chewie to finish service dog and gluten-detection training with his trainer. We do know people who are owner-training their dogs for gluten-detection over zoom with a trainer, so I HIGHLY recommend you work with a reputable trainer (who has experience specifically with gluten-detection) who can guide you through the process. It’s a pretty intricate one. Let me know if you need more details on trainers or anything!
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Thanks, Michal. I can’t imagine how intense the training is. I can barely train Charlie to not pull on the leash. 🤦♀️ It’s a work in progress.
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This is an important book and I will learn so much from reading it and sharing with my family. I used to cuddle up with my cat in bed and read well into the night during the summer as well as drape blankets over the table to make a reading cave. I’m adding this book to my TBR.
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Thanks for reading, Danielle. I’m so proud to be able to share books like this one with my readers. Definitely a good addition to any bookshelf. Good luck in the giveaway.
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Thank you, Danielle! I hope you enjoy Chewie’s story.
I used to hide under my bedcovers too and read with a flashlight. Shhhh – don’t tell my parents.
: }
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The book by Michal looks adorable. I love the service dog vibe of books lately and dog books in general
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Thank you for reading, Katie. I’m a big fan of dog books and have several manuscripts that feature my own pup, Charlie. Good luck in the giveaway.
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Thanks, Katie! I agree – it’s great to see dog books of all sorts coming into the world. We love these pooches!
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I appreciate this topic. My children are grown now but I still keep my house free of many of the top allergens so when they visit I’m prepared. Looking forward to reading this very important book. Thank you, Laura & Michal.
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Donna, thank you for reading. I’m so thrilled to be able to share some amazing books on my blog, not to mention the generous giveaways. I’m amazed at how dogs can play such a crucial role in helping people with medical issues. I have a few very close friends who have severe food allergies and it’s so challenging. Good luck in the giveaway.
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Thank, Laura! I agree, dogs can help with so many medical issues. We puppy sit for my daughter’s mini pomeranian and he helps my husband’s insomnia.
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That’s fantastic! It really is amazing how dogs can help with so many issues. Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy Chewie’s story!
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You’re welcome! 😊 It’s an important book. Food allergies are on the rise.
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Having raised six service dog puppies, I am really excited to read this book! I am continually impressed with all the ways dogs enrich our lives.
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Six service dog puppies? How wonderful! I’m a dog lover and the love and friendship they provide is a source of amazement when you think about it. But these amazing service dogs like Chewie are truly life changing. I have this book and LOVE it!
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Wow, that’s incredible! I’m in awe of service dog trainers and all the hard work they put into these animals. The dogs are absolutely amazing and life-changing. Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy Chewie’s story!
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Congratulations, Michal! My daughter has continued to compare your book to every other book I’ve asked her to read, and yours still comes out on top! We love Chewie!
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Becky, we love Chewie at my house, too! I have read it several times to my goldendoodle, Charlie. He loves being read to, and it’s on my pile to read to my granddaughter over FaceTime soon. Thanks for reading and sharing your love for this amazing book.
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Appreciate yoou blogging this
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Thanks for reading. This book is wonderful!
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