Welcome to they edition of Newsgram!

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According to a recent survey approximately 67% of American households have pets. Dogs are the most popular pet followed closely by cats and then of course there’s fish, birds and other small animals like Guinea Pigs. Our family has always had pets and if you are a pet owner too, then you know the emotional roller coaster these lovable creatures can lead you down. 

Having a pet is one of the most joyous things you can do for yourself and your family but losing them is, well…the opposite of that. 

One day, when our kids were young we decided that we were done with pets. The emotional toll of losing them was just too great but the kids were young and very insistent so we reluctantly agreed on a hand-fed cockatiel. Long life and easy to care for right? So Mr. Peepers joined our family and everyone loved him — and in case you’re wondering, his wings were clipped and he was not confined to a cage. Mr. Peepers was free to leave the cage whenever he chose and yes we took all the necessary precautions to make sure he was safe when flying about. But Mr. Peepers preferred to be in or near his cage anyway. From time to time we’d find him on top of the kitchen cabinets or some other place and I’d have to get out the ladder and bring him down. I’d put him on my shoulder like a pirate and he’d nibble on my ears then one day Mr. Peepers laid an egg. And, that’s the day we re-named him Mr’s Peepers.

Everyone loved holding Mrs. Peepers, especially my grandkids — yes that’s how long he was in our family—our young kids had kids of their own. 

Pam Henry Smith – Mack Lived to be about sixty

That’s Pam Henry Smith talking about her family’s pet, Mack the Amazon Parrot

Pam Henry Smith  – He brought us joy, frustration and amusement and knew kids would love to hear about it. 

So she put together a picture book that showcases some of the more outrageous exploits of this cherished family friend. 

Pam Henry Smith  – And I really got the inspiration to do it from my grandparents and my students at school.

Pam graduated from the University of Central Arkansas with a Bachelor of Education degree. She taught fourth grade for 32 years in White Hall, Arkansas.

Pam Henry Smith – Well, fourth and fifth and several other grades. And as I was writing books and teaching them how to write stories, I decided to write one with them. So this is the first one that I got published. So I do want to continue.

So Meet Mack was born and it tells the true story of an amazing Amazon parrot — this breed, when given the right amount of love, care and interaction can form a deep and lasting bond with certain individuals, and in her house that individual was Grammy. 

Pam Henry Smith – But, you know, Mac kept up with Grammy. It didn’t matter what she was doing, whether she was cooking, it would entertain her in the kitchen. If she was cleaning up, he was listening to what she was doing and watching over her. And I showed that in my book when she fell off the ladder one day. And I mean, Mac was in the other room and he yells out, Grammy, you okay, Grammy? I mean, this bird truly loved Grammie

In case you were wondering, Grammy’s fine. It’s fascinating how intelligent species like parrots and cockatiels are—they have an incredible emotional capacity. They recognize and respond to their favorite people, showing affection in different ways while seeking physical closeness. Their loyalty to those they trust is remarkable. And, much like a child, they have no filter, which can be a bit embarrassing at times.

Pam Henry Smith  –  I mean, I can remember one time we were sitting at the table and we had an aunt that came into town. And she was quite a character. And she never let anybody have time to talk. And all of a sudden, we were eating dessert. Everybody was quiet. And they were listening to Anne Elsie. And then Mac yells out, oh, shut up. He told her to shut up. We just about died. But she looked up and she said, I guess it’s about time I shut my mouth when the bird tells you to shut up.

Yes, that’s part of their charm isn’t it. They just say whatever they feel like saying. 

Pam Henry Smith – Well, my grandparents lived really close to a bus stop. The bus stop was on the corner. So Paula and I would always put the cage on the front screen and porch. And of course, nobody could see the bird. And everybody would walk down the street. Well, this one guy was walking down the street and Mac always talked. And he would say, hey boy, and that guy turned around. And of course, Mac turned around and said, hey boy. And the guy turned around again. He said, can’t you talk, boy? And by the time Mac said that, the guy ran. I mean, he was scared to death because he didn’t know he was talking to him. But it was always, always something that Mac was doing all the time.

And now, I think it’s time for you to “Meet Mac.” This heartwarming story, born in a fourth-grade creative writing class, shows how a mischievous family pet can create a lasting bond across generations.

Pam Henry Smith  – That’s what’s so special about this book. I mean, I told the stories to my grandkids when they were two and three. And then they always said, maybe you ought to do a book. And now I’ve done it. And they’re just really excited. But I just think, you know, this book will probably go on up to sixth grade level. And you can, as a teacher, I love to work with teachers on how to get kids enthused in writing. And, you know, teaching them what I did. It did work. We had pretty good literacy scores. And it was just exciting. But yes, it’s one of those books that you can put into a lesson if you’re a teacher. It’s one of those that you can read to the little ones. And second grade on up could read it. If they’re pretty good readers, the second grader could read it. And my grandson has read it to his little sister. And he’s going into the fifth grade so…

An Amazon parrot may not be the ideal pet for every family. These birds have long lifespans and can bite and show other challenging behaviors, as you’ll see in the book. It’s important to consider these factors carefully before deciding to bring one into your home. 

But books don’t bite and Meet Mac beautifully illustrates how a pet can forge a strong family bond, creating cherished memories that last a lifetime, while highlighting the vital role grandparents play in shaping their grandchildren’s lives.

As Mac brings both laughter and challenges, he intertwines love and understanding that will be treasured for years to come. This story goes beyond just a pet; it’s about the power of family, connection, and the unspoken lessons we pass down through generations. 

And that will do it for this edition of Newsgram from Webtalkradio.com.

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