♪ STORIES COME TO LIFE IN HER NORWELL HOME STUDIO. >> I WORK INTO THE NIGHT. I GO TO BED TIRED. I WAKE UP AND IT IS LIKE ELVES ARE THERE. DID I DO THAT LAST NIGHT? SHAYNA: THE AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR TAKES YOUNG READERS AROUND THE WORLD THROUGH HER BOOKS. INDIA, IN THE TALE OF THE TIGER SLIPPERS. JAPAN IN THE MERMAID. UKRAINE IN THE MITTEN. SHE’S OFF TO ALASKA WITH COZY IN LOVE, HER SECOND-STORY FEATURING A FRIENDLY MUSK OX. >> MY DAUGHTER MOVED TO ALASKA. SHE SAID, MOM, YOU HAVE TO SEE THESE CREATURES. I FELL IN LOVE WITH THEM. SHAYNA: SHE HAS WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED MORE THAN 40 BOOKS OVER HER DECADES LONG LITERARY CAREER. RESEARCH HAS BEEN AN IMPORTANT PART OF HER PROCESS SINCE ONE OF HER EARLIEST JOBS, DOING ILLUSTRATIONS FOR IRISH AUTHOR, EVEN BUNTING. -- EVE FUNDING. >> CAN BE LIKE THAT, RAINBOWS EVERYWHERE. I TOOK MY MOM AND DAUGHTER AND IT WAS GLORIOUS. SHAYNA: INITIALLY SHE WAS HESITANT TO WRITE HER OWN STORIES. >> I AM AN ARTIST, AN ILLUSTRATOR. EVER SINCE I WAS A LITTLE KID THAT IS HOW I COULD EXPRESS MYSELF. I WISH I. NOTHING EVER CAME OUT. SHAYNA: AN EDITOR ENCOURAGED HER TO GIVE IT A TRY. >> IS ONLY LIKE 10 STORIES. IT’S HOW YOU TELL THEM. YOU CAN NEVER GO HOME AGAIN, FUNNY LOOKING BUT IT TURNS OUT TO BE A GOOD THING. SHAYNA: THE STORY COMES FIRST, SHE SAYS. SHE WORKS OUT A DRAFT WITH FULL ILLUSTRATIONS. >> THAT IS IMPORTANT. I GO OVER IT WITH MY ART DIRECTOR. THERE WILL BE TECHNICAL THINGS LIKE, YOU CANNOT PUT A FACE WHERE THE PAGES FOLD. IT WILL BE IN A CREASE. THIS TIME I USED A CROSS-SECTION OF THE MITTEN, WITH ALL THE ANIMALS INSIDE. SHE SAID, DO IT FROM THE OUTSIDE. IN THE ACTUAL BOOK, YOU WILL SEE THE ACTUAL MITTEN. YOU WILL SEE ANIMAL STICKING OUT FROM THE MITTEN. SHAYNA: IF YOU KNOW WHAT A LOOK, YOU MIGHT FIND SOME FAMILIAR FACES IN BRETT’S WORK. >> MY HUSBAND IS IN THE BOSTON SYMPHONY. I DID A STORY, OR A BEAR IS PLAYING A DOUBLE BASE. I MADE JOE INTO A BEAR. WHEN HE GETS PUZZLED HE PULLS HIS EARS. I HAVE HIM PULLING HIS EARS. IN TOLD DAYS OF CHRISTMAS I AM A GOOSE. YOU ARE SO GENTLE. GOOD JOB. SHAYNA: AT THE LOWELL HUMANE SOCIETY, THE PERSONALITIES OF ALL THE ANIMALS SHINE THROUGH. >> OZZIE IS A EURO AND A HALF GOLDENDOODLE -- IS A FOREIGN HALF YEAR OLD GOLDENDOODLE. HE’S A BALL OF FUN. HE’S SUPERSWEET. HE’S ENORMOUS. SHAYNA: WHEN IT COMES TO FINDING A NEW HOME FOR OZZIE AND OTHER PETS LIKE HIM, SHELTER WORKERS INCLUDING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ARE LOOKING TO MAKE THE RIGHT MATCH. >> WE HAVE EVERYTHING FROM YOUR TINY IS LIKE MICE AND HAMSTERS, ALTHOUGH IT UP THROUGH GUINEA PIGS, RABBITS, CATS AND DOGS AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. BOSTON IS A FIVE-YEAR-OLD THE DOMESTIC SHORTHAIR. SHE WAS BROUGHT TO THE SHELTER BECAUSE THE FAMILY FELT THAT THEY COULDN’T PROVIDE THE BODY OF LIFE SHE NEEDED ANYMORE. SHAYNA: PROVIDING LOVE AND CARE TO ANIMALS IS THE MISSION AT THE LOWELL HUMANE SOCIETY WHICH CELEBRATES ITS ONE 50TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2023. >> THERE WAS A MEETING OF CITIZENS IN LOWELL WHO WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE DISTRESS, HORSES ON THE STREET. THE CITY RAN ON HORSES, IT WAS THE ONLY TRANSPORTATION PEOPLE HAD. SHAYNA: GRACE HAS SERVED ON THE BOARD SINCE 2004. SHE SHARED RECORDS FROM THE ORGANIZATIONS EARLIEST DAYS. IN THE EARLY 1900S THE HUMANE SOCIETY CARED FOR NEGLECTED CHILDREN IN THE CITY. >> IT READS, THE FOLLOWING IS A PICTURE OF TOO LITTLE -- TWO LITTLE GIRLS RESCUED FROM A DRUNKEN MOTHER AND PLACED IN THE CUSTODY OF THE OVERSEERS OF THE BOARD OF LOWELL. SHAYNA: WHEN LAID THE SOCIETY MOVED INTO ITS CURRENT BUILDING, THE GROUP TURNED ITS HEAD TO PETS. >> PETS ARE OUR FAMILY. ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO HELP PEOPLE, HELP PREVENT SURRENDERING THEIR PETS WE WILL DO. SHAYNA: THAT MEANS OFFERING A FREE PET FOOD PANTRY AND PROVIDING REFERRALS FOR SUPPORT WITH BEHAVIORAL ISSUES. ECONOMIC AND HOUSING CHALLENGES ARE TAKING A TOLL. >> HAVING A PLACE BOUGHT OUT. AND THE NEW LANDLORD CHANGING THE RENTAL POLICIES. SHAYNA: LOWELL HUMANE SOCIETY’S LONGEVITY REMAINS -- REFLECT THE IMPORTANT ROLE ANIMALS PLAY IN OUR LIVES. >> AN ANIMAL IS INNOCENT. IT’S LOOKING FOR YOUR ATTENTION. >> THEY DON’T HAVE ANYONE TO SPEAK FOR THEM, WE NEED TO BE THEIR VOICE. I THINK WE WILL BE AROUND FOR ANOTHER 150 YEARS, IF NOT, LONGER. SHAYNA: SO CUTE. ANTHONY: THE LOWELL HUMANE SOCIETY HAS A VETERINARY CLINIC IN THEIR BUILDING. THEY CAN TREAT PETS AS THEY COME IN AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE READY TO GO TO A NEW HOME. SHAYNA: HER CURRENT PROJECT IS RE-CREATING ALICE IN WONDERLAND. SHE OFFERS ADVICE TO KIDS, YOUNG ARTISTS IN TRAINING TO TAKE YOUR TIME WITH YOUR DRAWING AND LET YOUR MIND WANDER. ANTHON