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From left to right: Theodore Tasior, June Dice, Danielle Westgate and Madison Heinmiller pose with Dice's newly published book on July 5, 2022 near Sanford. Dice, who is posing with her great-grandchildren, wrote the book over 20 years ago.

June Dice poses with her newly published children's book, "Meet Shy Guy," on July 5, 2022 near Sanford. Dice wrote the book over 20 years ago.

From left, Theodore Tasior, Danielle Westgate and Madison Heinmiller pose with their great-grandmother June Dice's newly published book, "Meet Shy Guy," on July 5, 2022 near Sanford.

Twenty years after writing a book about changing the life of a shelter dog, June Hundley Dice has finally published "Meet Shy Guy."

Dice never thought she would see the 32-page children’s paperback book published because of the steep cost of publishing. But a chance meeting with TL Smith of Us Three Publishing helped bring the book to life. The pair met through Dice’s granddaughter, Candice. The printing was done by Nancy Sian, one of Dice’s best friends.

“I was always hoping it would get to print,” Dice said. “Dreams do come true. I’m 75 years old and it happened.”

Dice said her experience serves as a reminder to never give up on your dreams, no matter what age you are.

“Meet Shy Guy” stemmed from the author’s desire to see more shelter animals be adopted.

“The story reflects how adoption changed Shy Guy’s life,” Dice said. “This turns him into a happy guy.”

The book shows her grandchildren taking the dog to the beach, playing frisbee with him, getting him a bone, taking him to the vet and more.

“Always remember to be kind to animals,” Dice said. “That is important.”

Dice, a mother of four, has 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren with another on the way.

In addition to a dog, the book features many of Dice’s then-younger grandchildren. Now, those same grandchildren are reading the book to their children, Dice’s great-grandchildren.

Dice’s great-granddaughter, Madison Heinmiller, loves the book so much that she drew a picture of Shy Guy on her bedroom window. Dice said this warmed her heart.

Dice loves the message the book sends: to be kind to animals and to help the ones living in a shelter. That was the inspiration for the book.

“I just knew that a lot of animals were taken to the animal shelter and were not finding homes,” she said.

She and her late husband, Daniel, would go to the shelter when they could and adopt animals. The couple had multiple animals at one time.

Dice’s last dog, a Shih Tzu named Frisky, went to live with her nephew when Dice became ill. After she got better, she didn’t have the heart to take Frisky back from him because her nephew was so attached to the dog. Dice now has a cat that she adopted from the shelter.

One of the animals that Dice and her late husband owned wasn’t adopted at the shelter. Instead, it flew to them. It was an Andalusian Tumblr that flew into Dice’s husband’s back truck window and continued to ride around in the vehicle with him. Showing no interest in flying away, the bird stayed with the couple, who named it Cooley Cooley. They had the bird for three years before it died.

Dice’s writing endeavors also include two songs: “Is that a star?” and “King of Angels.” The author has also written 16 poems since finishing the book.

The book, which was illustrated by air-brush artist Famous Jamous, is dedicated to Dice’s family and friends. The Dice family is well-known in the Sanford area. When Dice’s children were younger, she was the neighborhood “mom” and her house was often full of children.

As her children got older, they began to help their own neighbors and eventually instilled the same manners into their own children. It was no surprise that the Dice family was out helping many Sanford families after the 2020 flooding.

“That’s what Grandma taught us,” said Sarah Tasior, one of Dice's grandkids.

She said Dice taught her family to be kind to animals and help whomever you can.

Tasior is excited that her grandmother’s book was published.

“It’s amazing I can read something of hers to my child,” Tasior said. “I’m so proud of her.”

To get a copy of the book, message Dice directly at https://www.facebook.com/june.dice.37. She will be selling and autographing the book at Sanford’s Popup Palooza from 11 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 23 at Porte Park, and again from 11 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 30 at Samaritan Appliance. The book is also for sale via Amazon at https://amzn.to/3amk2TG

Dan Chalk was born in Midland and graduated from Midland High School in 1989 and from Adrian College in 1994. He had a six-year teaching career both overseas in the Peace Corps and in Michigan, which overlapped slightly with his journalism career. He has worked for the Midland Daily News since 1998.