Giveaway: Three Paws

Three Paws by Karen Struck follows Boots the grizzly bear cub who faces new struggles after permanently injuring his paw. Rooted in friendship and acceptance, Boots’ journey of learning new skills as he navigates his disability as told through Three Paws is perfect for young children, whether they are learning to survive their own challenge or simply to understand the differences of others.

No matter our background, we can all relate to Boots and his story: one of perseverance and never giving up on our dreams, even if the odds are stacked against us. Boots’ adventures in Three Paws encourages children to be bold and make new friends, all while allowing themselves the room to grow and learn new things. It promotes the importance of both independence and inclusivity, and how both together can function to provide acceptance, encouragement, and positive growth for a child.


Q&A with Karen Struck

What was your inspiration behind the writing the book?While on an Alaskan cruise, the naturalist on board described the dangers faced by mountain goats who live along the steep mountain peaks. They sometimes lose their footing on loose gravel and roll down the mountain cliff, injured and unable to return to the mountaintop.

They become prey for the bears, wolves, and coyotes that linger along the riverbank. As one of my writing assignments for the Institute of Children’s Literature, I decided to turn this sad wildlife story into a story of hope, perseverance, and friendship.

What do you hope children take away from the story of Three Paws?First, I hope they are encouraged to never lose sight of their dreams. Never give up! But also, follow the golden rule and treat others with kindness and compassion along the way. As a grizzly bear cub with a disability, Boots will do whatever is necessary to become the greatest salmon catcher in Ketchikan. He must learn new skills from an unlikely new acquaintance – a goat. I hope kids will see that we all have differences, but just because you are different does not mean you are less valuable. I hope Three Paws inspires kids to find what makes them special, and celebrate it.

Despite Boots’ challenge of having an injured paw, he ends up reaching his dreams in a very creative way. What message do you want to share with kids who may be facing their own unique disability or physical setback?
Whatever the challenge may be, we all need to find ways to build on our talents while adapting to our environment. It may mean learning new skills and getting help from outside resources. One example is Tom Whittaker. He lost his right foot in a car accident in 1979 but always dreamed of climbing Mt. Everest. On May 27, 1998, during his third attempt, he accomplished his lifelong dream and became the first person with a disability to climb Everest. He did not lose sight of his dream because he lost his foot. He learned to adapt and work within his disability.

If you'd like to enter to win a copy of Three Paws, leave a comment below with what intrigues you about this story. Deadline is 10/31.


KAREN STRUCK discovered the joy of children's literature as she read to her daughter each night. She was inspired by the Harry Potter book series, and decided to take writing courses through the Institute of Children's Literature. Three Paws is the first book published in the Three Paws Series.

Karen is also a registered nurse and works in the aesthetic industry, performing laser treatments combined with injectables for skin rejuvenation. She works with her husband, Steve, a plastic surgeon in Atherton, California. Residing in Los Gatos, California, Karen has a daughter named Rachel and two stepchildren, Danni and Evan Struck.

Three Paws is available through Amazon and other major booksellers.