Bring
The
Children
A trio of events are
family friendly at
the Jewish Book Fair.
STORIES BY
ELIZABETH APPLEBAUM
AppleTree Editor
Editor's Note: The following three stories are about
programs coming to the 51st Annual Jewish Book
Fair; presented by the Jewish Community Center of
Metropolitan Detroit in West Bloomfield and Oak
Park.
2002
118
S oon after she answered the
ad, Lorraine Friedman
knew she had found love.
The Alexandria, Va., res-
ident was an attorney working with
homeless children. While reading the
paper one day, she saw an advertise-
ment about a "puppy farm." It really
was a farm, which had been convert-
ed into a refuge for dogs and other
animals no longer wanted. Literally
hundreds were there, but as
Friedman (who goes by the name
"Rainey") looked around,. one caught
her eye — and wouldn't let go.
"I learned that this dog was sup-
posedly the runt" -- part golden
retriever, part dachshund — and suppos-
edly a sickly, small pooch who would
never make it. But, the owner
of the puppy farm said,
"She's so smart, and
there's something
about her..."
Rainey
agreed. She
took the
dog home and named
her Jazz.
Today, Rainey lives
with Jazz, her hus-
band, Douglas, and
their children, Jared,
3 1 /2, and Cameron, 19
months. She is no
longer a full-time attor-
ney. Because of Jazz,
she's taken a very
new path in life — as
a children's book author
and songwriter. It all began
in her office.
Long before she became Rainey the author,
she was Lorraine Friedman the very busy attorney
and litigator. Working for nonprofits, always advocat-
ing for those in need, Friedman found herself "in
court all the time."
After graduating from Georgetown University Law
Center, she worked with the National Law Center on
Homelessness and Poverty. Later, as director of
Protection and Advocacy for People with
Developmental Disabilities, her caseload included 50
children with special needs.
Friedman said she loved her professional life but she
wanted to have — and help raise — her own children,
as well. .
While working, Friedman often would bring Jazz to
the office. Parents brought their children when they
Rainbow
Tailed
Dog
Has
Lesson
For
Children
came to meet with her, and Jazz
helped entertain the boys and girls
while Friedman spoke with the
adults.
Once, Friedman was working
on a case involving a 5-year-old
profoundly autistic boy who lived
with his grandmother. He had
been born addicted to crack
cocaine; his mother was in prison.
His grandmother came to
Friedman's office to discuss new
ways to help secure support serv-
ices for the boy.
Every time the two came,
Friedman made certain to have
Jazz there because the boy loved
her. Friedman would assure him:
"She's so happy to see that you're here,"
and the boy would stroke the dog.
For all of his five years of life, the child
had been virtually silent, uttering noth-
ing intelligible. Then, that afternoon, as
he sat next to JA77, he said her name:
azz, azz.
The grandmother, and Friedman,
began to cry.
"That's a magic dog," the grandmother said.
"It was a miraculous moment," Friedman says now
(Today, she reports, the boy has received special
services and is doing well. "The last time I spoke with
him, he was learning new words and is in a therapeu-
tic day school. He's on his way.")
Friedman also knew it was a moment that somehow
had to continue. She thought - about this as she con-
templated a change in her life — one that would allow
her to be with her own two boys, but also help
others.
That's how Jazz the DreamDog and
DreamDog Kids were born.
They are a series of books and CDs
designed to help children develop self-esteem.
Rainey's message: "The real magic to solve
problems lies within yourself"
Her books include Monsters in Your Bed ... Monsters
inYour Head (which, instead of discounting children's
fears of the creepy creatures in their dark rooms,
encourages children to think of ways to get the mon-
sters out) and Jeromes Jam (in which a little boy pre-
pares for the arrival of a new baby sister).
Accompanying the books are CDs, featuring origi-
nal songs — Rainey even serves as producer — which
further encourage children to believe in themselves.
She makes frequent appearances on television and
radio and goes into schools where she helps parents
learn how to encourage children to rely on themselves,
rather than simply solving problems for them.
In her longtime professional work with families,
Rainey would see time and again how parents "would