What do you get when you mix a lovable canine with full-time RVing and a bit of whimsy?
By Robbin Gould, Editor
March 2024
Readers of this magazine may recall an article from the April 2023 issue titled “A Life-Changing RV Journey . . . And We’re Not Done Yet.” Erik Anderson, F464919, described how he and his wife, Jeanne, traded their house on Long Island, New York, for a 30-foot Type A motorhome and set out on “the adventure of our lives.” Hershey Pup, their Cavalier King Charles spaniel, took to the road as well.
Living, working, and traveling in their RV full-time since July 2020, the Andersons have visited 48 states, six Canadian provinces, and 38 national parks — a tally that’s sure to keep growing.
Life on the road has also led to the launch of their first children’s book, Hershey Pup Discovers New England’s State Birds & Flowers.
The first title in the Hershey Pup RV Adventures series is a “fun and educational journey” based on the real-life escapades of the Andersons’ canine companion. Hershey Pup learns about the flora and feathered creatures of New England. The book’s goals are to teach children the importance of curiosity, exploration, nature, and shared family experiences through travel.
How did this come about? Hershey Pup, a charming, happy-go-lucky fellow, developed a following on social media. “Many Facebook group members in over a dozen RV-related groups began suggesting, ‘You guys should write a book about Hershey Pup’s travels,’” Erik noted. “So, we finally did!”
Erik and Jeanne Anderson plan to create a series of books centered on the RV adventures of their dog Hershey Pup.
They decided to make it a children’s book, Erik said, because he and Jeanne enjoy seeing children playing and exploring the outdoors in campgrounds and RV parks throughout the U.S. and Canada. “We wanted to entertain kids, make it fun, and also have Hershey’s books be educational in the process,” he added.
The next book, already in the works, spotlights animals Hershey Pup has met around the country. Future topics will cover national parks, the desert Southwest, and the Great Lakes region, among others. The couple is also working on a book based on the pup’s experiences as a campground host, explaining common campground rules and encouraging kids to be responsible campers.
The Andersons recently took part in a virtual Google Meet session with 20 fourth-grade students at Carrollton Elementary, near Milwaukee, Wisconsin. “Their teacher included Hershey Pup’s first book in her class curriculum on the New England states,” Erik said. “The kids got to meet the real Hershey Pup, and they all had such great questions for us.”
“It really warmed our hearts!”
Hershey Pup Discovers New England’s State Birds & Flowers is available in paperback and Kindle versions on Amazon. To follow the exploits of this well-traveled Cavalier, visit hersheypupadventures.com. Or check out his Facebook and Instagram pages.
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