Take a ride-along with Sergeant Mark Tappan and his amazing K9 partner Mattis, whose heroic actions will inspire you to live courageously, serve selflessly, and love passionately because every human (and dog) has a purpose.

Sergeant Mark Tappan shares a unique bond with his K9 partner Mattis, one of the most decorated police K9s of all time. Mark knew from the first time they interacted that Mattis was something special. As a man of deep faith, Mark also knew that God's most profound teaching often comes through the most unexpected sources, and he soon realized that Mattis was going to teach him about loyalty, selfless service, and so much more.

In A Dog Named Mattis, Mark shares twelve life lessons he's learned from working with Mattis. Through these first-hand accounts of bravery and service, you will learn profound lessons, like:

• being willing to 'go all in' and work with all your heart even when things are uncertain,
• how persistence pays off when you are willing to stick with what you know is right,
• how to be strong and courageous in the face of adversity,
• and much more.

You will also get a behind-the-scenes look at the world of police K9s and gain a deeper understanding of:

• the many ways that K9 units assist police departments,
• what a K9 officer's daily life looks like,
• what kind of training police dogs and their handlers must go through,
• how a police dog is tested and selected,
• and the lengths a dog will go to in order to complete their mission.

A Dog Named Mattis will capture the hearts of dog lovers everywhere and remind you that true success is built on relationships filled with trust, communication, and love.

Meet Mattis, a K9 police dog who loves helping people and fighting crime alongside his partner, Sergeant Mark. Learn what Mattis's favorite part of the day is as he follows scent trails, tracks down missing items, and performs his official police work. K9 Mattis on the Job from author and police sergeant Mark Tappan will captivate kids as they discover what a day in the life of a German shepherd police dog is all about.

Real-life hero Mattis the K9 officer first captured America's hearts on A&E's America's Top Dog and at school visits across the country. Now, through this fun story based on Mattis's official police work, kids will find out what this pup loves to do each day, from driving to the police station in the morning (okay, Sergeant Mark does most of the driving) to training with the other officers to using his super sniffer to find missing items! But can you guess what Mattis's favorite part of the day is?

This picture book

• is for boys and girls ages 4 to 8;
• is for kids who love dogs, are fascinated by police officers or other first responders, or are fans of PAW Patrol's Chase and Officer Buckle and Gloria;
• includes bright, action-packed illustrations; and
• is a perfect choice for read-aloud events at school or libraries.

Find out why so many have already fallen in love with one of America's fluffiest heroes!