Children’s book author Portia Y. Clare will launch her new book while also giving back to the local community.

Clare, a third-grade teacher at Bennettsville Primary School, said amid COVID-19 that children’s interactions with pet animals in the household were at times strengthened, strained, or established anew. Extensive periods of confinement made the home environment not only the site for most family activities, but also the hub for children’s school and many adults’ work.

Also, during this time, children have experienced lots of loss – loss of day-to-day activities, loss of family and friendship interaction, loss of family members, and loss of family pets.

Clare wants to help children who’ve experienced pet loss by sharing her experience in the form of her newly published children’s book, “Best Friends Forever: A Puppy’s Tale.”

Clare will launch her book in two phases on Dec. 8. Phase One will be at noon via a Facebook LIVE interview with her publishing company. Clare has invited her third-grade students to be present to watch the LIVE interview.

After the interview, the students will take part in fun activities surrounding her book. All third-grade students will receive an autographed copy of “Best Friends Forever: A Puppy’s Tale” and a framed picture with the author. The public is welcome to view the video, which will be shared publicly on Facebook.

Phase Two of the book launch will be a public book signing in the Kinney Room at the Marian Wright Edelman Public Library from 4-6 p.m.