Mount Olive Teacher Educates Through Book Series about Man’s Best Friend

Mount Olive English Teacher Sue Steinhardt loves teaching her students wonderful lessons in the classroom, but now she is also writing books for youngsters to learn as well.  According to Steinhardt, “the Imperfectphil series focuses on the idea that our unique qualities and flaws are what makes us perfect.  It was because of Phil’s failures that someone exclaimed he was perfect just the way he was...and Imperfectphil was born.”

Many avid readers may rightfully believe there are many books that teach life lessons through their main character.  However, what is unusual about the lovable Phil is that he is a dog.

Sue and best friend Phil make great hiking buddies

 Phil was adopted by the author in 2018 from a farm near Hackettstown, New Jersey. He is a 130-pound St. Bernard/Mastiff mix. Steinhardt fell in love right away with the big loveable fellow and was able to see how much there was to learn from him.

Steinhardt said “We (our society) overlook how much we can learn from animals.”  One of her favorite anecdotes regarding Phil is when he went to obedience school and had to take a final exam.  Phil, who is always doing something funny, lied down during the test and therefore failed to become certified as a therapy dog.

Now, to many dog owners, disappointment may have followed.  But Steinhardt took a different perspective.  She saw an animal that was perfect just the way he was and should be loved for his unique traits. She started blogging in 2018 about the adventures her wonderful pet got involved in and her high school students adored these stories.

In 2019 her first book of the “Imperfectphil” series was published with terrific illustrations from Jessica Murr.  Steinhardt approached Murr after she had completed several of her English classes as a student at Mount Olive High School.  Murr, who is an immensely gifted artist, and Steinhardt hit it off immediately and are planning additional books in the series.

The local author said that Phil’s stories which are told through his voice has allowed her to spread the universal message to “accept ourselves and advocate for one another.” She said education is vital to giving students the ability to express themselves, and her books about “Imperfect Phil” complement this goal. The dog’s episodes leave students with the idea that people should be loved for who they are and like her dog, not sweat the small stuff.

Though Phil did not earn the credentials to be a therapy dog, such stories allow students to see they are perfect just the way they are. Steinhardt said this message helps build confidence in kids. “I like helping people and empowering people to use their voice," she said.

The Mount Olive author wants to continue her passion of writing about Phil and help children tackle difficult subjects such as death and grief.  She admits she will have to go through this process when her best friend eventually passes on, but she hopes to do so in a healthy way. Since many students are afraid to speak of loss or death, she hopes to help educate them on these subjects.

Steinhardt also has a great wish for Phil to take on a larger role.  Though she is content touring different book festivals and street fairs with her dog, she maintains Hollywood should take notice. Her hope is that in the next few years ahead, Disney or Pixar will create an animated series based on Phil.

While her dream has not been realized yet, don’t count out Steinhardt from landing a mega deal with a Hollywood giant.  She has a growing readership and attributes much of her success to her parents. “They are my biggest cheerleaders and believe whatever I want to do, I could do,” she said.

Steinhardt, who said she has “been writing since before she was born,” is also influenced by many projects that have reached a wider audience.  For instance, one of her favorite books is the classic, Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White whose amazing work was developed into a blockbuster animated feature.

She is equally encouraged by the long running Sesame Street television series which uses the art of puppetry to educate children.

The emerging author sees a close relationship between these works and her own “Imperphectphil” series.  Though it may not happen tomorrow, the possibility is growing that our friend Phil will soon be on the big screen. According to the New Jersey writer, “it would make a great movie and television series.”