Joanne Stubenberg
Author of The Crooked Dog Series
Stories inspired by love, rescue, and the belief that pets are forever family.
When you bring a dog into your life, you make a promise.
My books are about keeping that promise.
About Joanne
From Banker To Storyteller
For over 30 years, I worked as a banker. It was a career I was proud of and dedicated to. But when I became a grandmother, something shifted in my heart.
Reading children’s books with my grandsons every night reminded me how powerful simple stories can be. They teach without pressure. They shape character gently. They stay with us.
That is when I realized I wanted to become an author.
Today, I write and illustrate children’s books that teach responsibility, kindness, empathy, and lifelong love for animals.
The Heart Behind The Stories
Meet Jo Jo
Jo Jo is not just a character, he is my real rescue Dachshund.
He came into my life on Mother’s Day in 2011 after a call from a rescue group about a small, scared dog who needed a home. He had been found running loose on a golf course, skinny, terrified, and with no tag or microchip. No one ever came looking for him.
A few months after joining our family, he broke his back. With time, care, patience, and love, he healed. Today, he walks just a little crooked, which is exactly how The Crooked Dog series was born.
He is our forever dog.
And I firmly believe every pet deserves that kind of commitment.
Author & Illustrator
Creativity runs in my family, and I discovered that storytelling wasn’t enough — I wanted to draw the stories too.
I create all the illustrations in my books myself. I always keep happy movies playing in the background while I draw because I believe joy shows up in the artwork when you feel it while creating.
The goal is simple: pictures that feel warm, childlike, and full of heart.
The Crooked Dog Series
The Crooked Dog series follows Jo Jo the Dachshund and Kelly, the little boy who adopts him.
Through their adventures, children learn:
• The responsibility of caring for a pet
• Why we should not pick on others
• The importance of empathy
• How to grow through mistakes
• What it means to belong
These books are written for families who believe pets are not temporary — they are forever.
Book Trailers
Stories That Build Compassion
When we teach children early that animals deserve lifelong love and respect, we build a more compassionate world.
I hope The Crooked Dog series brings warmth to your home and helps children understand that being a little different is something to celebrate.
Because sometimes, the ones who walk a little crooked teach us the straightest path to love.
