Once upon a time, Emilie Buchwald worked at Milkweed Editions, a Minnesota-based literary nonprofit. In 2003, she retired, thinking she was finished with publishing. But after doing extensive research on the humane treatment of animals, she realized there was more work to be done.
"I could do more as an advocate by publishing children's picture books about animal issues," Buchwald says.
In 2006, The Gryphon Press was created. Now a one-woman press, Buchwald has published seven books, bringing various animal issues to the forefront of children's literacy.
Going Gryphon
Buchwald is extremely passionate about her work, and she has to be, seeing as she is the only employee of The Gryphon Press, headquartered at her Edina home. "If I didn't have something that I wanted to gain from this, mainly educating children and their parents about these issues, I assure you, I wouldn't be doing it," she says.
Her books--and her work--aren't going unnoticed, as she's received awards for two of her books from The Humane Society of the United States and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).
"You know why [they got the awards]? No one had done this. No one had shown the story of an abused, neglected dog," Buchwald says of one book that was recognized, Buddy Unchained (The Gryphon Press, Fall 2006).
Buddy Unchained is a story about a dog that gets rescued and is adopted by a family, so it has a happy ending. However, throughout the book Buddy's life isn't so cheery. The text and illustrations show the dog chained, outside most of the time, owned by people who forget about him.
Each of the books Buchwald publishes--aimed at children 5 years and older--contains a back page of information focusing on how people can help an animal facing the issue discussed in the story. By providing these resources, Buchwald believes she is empowering the reader, giving them the tools to make a difference.
She goes beyond the topic of abused or neglected animals, and prints books on puppy mills as well as the importance of getting an animal spayed or neutered.
The most recent book published is It's Raining Cats and Cats! (The Gryphon Press, September 2008). The story focuses on a mom and child who pick up their cat from the vet after she's been spayed. The child wants to know why the cat had to get spayed, and the mom explains what the world would be like if they didn't take the cat to the vet.
"The rest of the book shows the profusion of cats and kittens. It's fun, it's delightful, but I think, for kids, it shows what will happen if you don't spay or neuter," Buchwald says.
For the Love of Dogs
Buchwald has always loved animals. As a child living in New York City, she often tried to adopt dogs, but couldn't because her family lived in an apartment.
Once Buchwald and her husband, Henry, moved to Edina in 1960, the first thing they did was purchase a dog. She also established a rule, defining when her four daughters could get dogs of their own. At age 12, as long as they walked it before and after school, fed it and simply took care of its needs, the girls could get a dog.
"I got my first dog, Foxy Thunder, When I was 12," Says Claire Buchwald, one of Emilie and Henry's daughters. "We got her from St. Croix Animal Shelter. Foxy was an agile, loving Sheltie mix. Without Foxy, I cannot imagine how I would have made it through the most difficult parts of my middle school and high school years."
Now, as adults, three of her four daughters have dogs and cats--one daughter lives in an apartment, and the building doesn't allow dogs. As for Emilie and her husband, they own an American Eskimo named Sam. Even the Gryphon Press logo and name are focused on animals: a gryphon has the head of an eagle, the body of a lion and the tail of a serpent. It's a creature that has interested Buchwald for many years--she incorporated The Gryphon Press in 1983, not knowing why at the time. But, it's the symbolism behind a gryphon that meant the most to her. "The gryphon was often used as a symbol of justice and as a fair witness. I loved that idea," Emilie says.
Power of the Kids
Discussing animal humane issues can be touchy. These topics are emotional, and many people have difficulty reading about them. Emilie believes children are the ones who can make a difference regarding these sensitive issues.
"Children go on the internet, they watch war stories on television, they look at newspaper headlines they are exposed to horrible things," she says. "Why should they not be exposed to issues that they can actually do something about?"
By informing children, Emilie says, she is hoping to change the paradigm of how people view animals. "Children can be a force for good, just as they were for recycling and other issues," she says.
Since her main goal is to educate children, Emilie has focused on getting the books into schools and becoming part of humane education programs. She donated books to many Minneapolis and St. Paul schools as well as to Regions Hospital, making the stories available for volunteers who read to patients.
"The idea is to not just create the books, but to figure out how to get them read," Emilie says.
Recently a small test order was placed by New York Public Schools, which plans to use the books as a way to discuss animal humane issues. Additionally in Sacramento, Calif., Maine, South Carolina, Florida, Long Beach, Calif. and Minnesota, humane education programs used Buddy Unchained and Max Talks to Me (The Gryphon Press, 2007), which discusses pet responsibility, to inform their participants.
"[The books] are slowly making their way as their own little niche," Emilie says.
Expert Authority
Emilie is very careful about the authors and illustrators she works with. "I try to involve people who really care," she says.
The first two books published under The Gryphon Press were written by Emilie--her pen name is her maiden name, Daisy Bix. They are Buddy Unchained, and At the Dog Park with Sam and Lucy (The Gryphon Press, 2006). "I knew exactly what I wanted," she says.
The other authors she has worked with are her daughter Claire Buchwald, Jan Zita Grove, a local writer, and Jeanne Prevost of Massachusetts. Each author has a special connection to the press's mission as well as to the book they are writing.
"My second dog, purchased with my parents as well as my husband was Keltie Brenna. Keltie was a rescued dog, adopted from Homeward Bound Rescue at an animal adoption in Burnsville," Claire says, "When we took Keltie out on a leash to get to know her, she was frightened and cowered submissively on her back. As I slowly reached down to pet the silky pup, she trembled. Clearly, no hand had come down on her gently before." Claire has another rescue dog a Collie named Lily Sunshine, as well as two rescued cats.
The illustrators have the same passion. One California artist rescues dogs and modeled Buddy in Buddy Unchained after his dog who was found wandering the streets.
Ambitions Aloft
As The Gryphon Press moves into anouther year, Emilie has lofty goals. In April, a new book will be released titled Miss April and Miss May (The Gryphon Press, April 2009). it's a book that tackles the social issues of suburban and rural people losing their homes due to land development. She hopes to do more books on social issues like factory farming, and she would like to focus on other animals, specifically the topic of abandoned horses.
Emilie also sits on the Animal Humane Society Board, something she will be active in throughout 2009.
Also, as part of 2009, she would like to print some of the press's books in paperback--tehy are all hardcover at this time. And, of course there will be more stories to print.
With a strong passion for animals and education Emilie is hopeful that change will come. There are a lot of world issues that need attention, but the humane treatment of animals is gaining momentum she says.
Through her hard work, Emilie is confident in the future. "I have hope," she says.
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In 2008 Emilie Buchwald was awarded the National Book Critics Circle Ivan Sandroff Lifetime Achievement Award for her work in publishing. "This was a huge surprise to me, because you don't know you've been nominated," she says.
As part of the award, Buchwald and her family traveled to New York City in March 2008 for the event, where she gave an acceptance speech.
"For me, to see these books add up, I don't think I thought about it at the time, but then they do add up," she says. "If you look at them you can see what made your life interesting and how you felt you had contributed to the public good."
She also feels that this award is wonderful because of its recognition that literature is important in the cultural life of this country.
