Welcome to the website of Justine Chard: Teacher, Author and Friend


'Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which one must overcome.' Booker T. Washington

My name is Justine Chard. I am Australian, and by day I am a teacher, while by night I am the author of children’s books. To date I have written five of the 26 books that comprise the series The Adventures of Jake and Max ‘Mishky Moo’. They are being issued in alphabetical sequence from A to Z, and recount the experiences of two Border Collie dogs as they travel around the world.
 
My series of books is intended not only to entertain children but to also serve as a tool: a source from which they can garner valuable advice on how to tackle challenging situations, and in the process, to learn a little geography. Children need exposure to a lot of different values. At times this concept can be very challenging and confronting to a parent. As parents and teachers, we try to encourage children to contemplate values. That is why open discussion, without ridicule, is so important. If children feel safe physically, emotionally and mentally, it gives them the courage to try new things without the fear of failure. Making mistakes is normal: what we want is for children to understand that different choices result in different outcomes. Thus ‘good’ informed decisions generally produce more successful outcomes.
 
One of the most important lessons I have learned as a result of travelling is the value of flexibility.
If I had to choose a close second, it would be to keep one’s mind open to new and varied experiences. There is no one ‘right way’ to live life. Travelling helps us to experience first-hand how different cultural groups live. I do my best to practice what I preach, and live life with a good attitude. It was instilled in me from a very early age and, as a result, I have learned to ‘sway like a stalk of bamboo’ with life’s challenges. Admittedly this is not always easy, but if we are a little brave and surround ourselves with a good support network, do not take ourselves too seriously and have a sense of humor, at least we are getting a good start off the blocks.
 
Just as reading a story is like taking a trip, so writing allows us to travel anytime, even if it is only in our head. It is my belief that travelling makes us humble. It makes us really appreciate other cultures and provides us with a snapshot of what it is like to live in another part of the world. The books are designed to stimulate children’s curiosity: by the time we get to book ‘Z’ in the series, Jake and Max will have visited all seven continents, including Antarctica.
 
Children are similar all around the world. Despite the language, accent or dialect, most children face similar challenges when growing up. Jake and Max, the travelling Border Collie dogs, are loveable creatures that also experience these same hardships.  Through trial, error and lots of practice, they finally learn that making the right choices helps them in dealing with the curve balls that life throws at them.
 
Another lesson I have learned from travelling is to ‘live the moment’. We must stop, take the time to listen, watch, smell, taste the exotic foods and touch the new environment. All of this sensory information that we absorb from the environment enables us to really get to know and understand new places, people and their customs. Sounds vary from region to region and taking the time to listen helps us to learn who and what exists in our surroundings.
 
Most of the information we gain is through visual cues. We have grown up in a society that is increasingly reliant upon television, computers, video games and other electronic visual stimulus. Travelling is a visual feast. People come in all shapes, colors and sizes around the world. No two places are ever truly the same and the differences can be easily seen and explained just by watching life as it goes on about us.
 
Food is one of the greatest pleasures that we can possibly experience. So even though the dogs’ diet changes from country to country, it is always nice to have a familiar comfort food like ‘Shmackos’ around. These meaty Australian treats help the dogs chomp their way through life and deal with their struggles.
 
The sense of smell is perhaps the most underutilized sense in humans, but not so for dogs. They learn more from the odours in their environment than from anything else. It is this sense that enables Jake and Max to recognize different places, people and other animals much faster than any human could.
 
Finally, the sense of touch: the most luxurious of all our senses. When we travel extensively, it is the sense of touch that helps us to consolidate everything that we have heard, seen, tasted and smelt.
 
Travelling puts life into perspective. It allows the simple joys to be revered and complex problems to be approached with courage and resilience. Thus a strong sense of self is created, as well as a greater understanding of the world around us. Flexibility, confidence and positivity are just some of the strengths that can be developed along the way when we know that ‘Shmackos’ are perhaps just a ‘care package’ away.