ANN ALMA
CHILDREN'S AUTHOR

This cute dog is Ann's real dog. Shira is named Sheera in Summer of Changes and Summer of Adventures because Ann was worried that readers might not pronounce Shira's name right (because it sounds like Sheera). Shira is a fourteen-and-a-half-year-old border collie (in people age that would be more than one hundred years old!). She is incredibly smart (border collies are very smart) and she can do all kinds of tricks and follow commands. Because of her age Shira now mostly spends her time sleeping. She is now also deaf. The following are some pictures of Shira when she was the age described in the books Summer of Changes and Summer of Adventures. The reason Shira loves to come along for presentations at schools isn't just because she knows she gets biscuits, but because she knows she is the centre of attention and she loves to show off. Here she is giving Ann a hug, so she can get her biscuit, and she's performing for the kids at schools,  and whispering in Ann's ear.

At home Shira has her own cat, Miepke. She lets Miepke hug her and even wash her face from time to time.

 Shira thinks she is the best helper when the snow flies in the Kootenays.
Her favorite activity in the winter is cross-country skiing.