Our Mission
It started with six little donkeys
It started on the drive to school. Every morning, my boys and I passed a little meadow outside Atlanta where six miniature donkeys spent their days. “Look at the Donks!” Over time, I began to wonder. How did they get there? What were their names? Where did they sleep at night? And did they ever dream of somewhere else?
When they weren’t there as we drove by, we were disappointed. When they were grazing in all their glory, we were elated. The boys in the back seat started joining in. The questions turned into names. The names turned into personalities. And the personalities turned into a rhyming quest across Drearyland.
There were six in that meadow, but in my story there are seven, because every pack has room for one more friend.
My mom was a 2nd-grade teacher and a pianist, and my dad was a high school biology teacher and an artist. I guess I was always set up to love two things: learning by doing, and animals. It’s also why we’re proud supporters of teachers and donkey rescues.
— Matt Clement · Meet the author
What we believe
A little love goes a long way, and these five ideas go into every Seven Little Donks book.
- A virtue in every book
Each book is built around one virtue, and the Donks show it through the choices they make, never a lecture.
- Fun comes first
Bouncy rhymes, big BRAAAAYs and lots of giggles. Kids learn from the characters they love, so we make the Donks easy to love and the lessons easy to laugh along with.
- Every story starts a conversation
Each book has its own Family Conversation Guide, with easy questions that keep the story going long after the last page.
- Made with classrooms and families in mind
My mom taught 2nd grade, so every book has free lesson plans for the classroom, plus Family Conversation Guides and activity packs for home.
- Real Donks need friends too
Real donkeys started all of this, so we cheer on some of our favorite donkey rescues and make it easy for any rescue to share the books.
How the books give back
For teachers
Every book comes with free, printable Donk Week lesson plans and activity packs, ready for story time in the classroom, the library or at home.
For our favorite rescues
Real Donks need friends too. We cheer on some of our favorite donkey rescues and make it easy for any rescue to share the books.