Dakota & Chester and the Missing Red Ball

Dakota runs fast-sometimes faster than his paws can think. When Chester's favorite red ball disappears, Dakota knows what happened. He wants to blame the wind, the fence, or one very suspicious squirrel. But friendship requires something braver: telling the truth. The friends' search carries them beyond the backyard and across a sparkling creek, where they discover that a real apology includes more than "I'm sorry." It means listening, respecting boundaries, working together, and helping make things right. Dakota & Chester and the Missing Red Ball is a warm, beautifully illustrated adventure for ages 5-9 about accountability, honest apologies, emotional courage, safe boundaries, and rebuilding trust. Includes: - A practical three-step accountability guide - Kind-but-firm phrases children can use - Discussion questions for families and classrooms - A make-it-right worksheet - Drawing activities