A Journey of Courage & Connection
When Mary Thompson’s beloved Shih-Poo, Coco Mia, darted through a hole in the fence one quiet morning, she had no idea the experience would one day shape a book, a movement, and a new chapter of her own life.
What followed was every pet owner’s nightmare: a frantic search, neighbors joining in, strangers posting online, and hours of uncertainty that stretched into the longest day of her family’s life. Coco Mia was found, but Thompson realized the story was no longer just hers. It was about community, resilience, and the surprising ways kindness shows up when it’s needed most.
That realization became Adventures of Coco Mia—LOST, a children’s book that turns a personal ordeal into a timeless story about courage and connection.
Writing as Transformation
“I never dreamt I would author a book,” Thompson admits. But the act of writing changed her more than she expected.
“I became more present, with children at readings, with pet parents swapping stories, and with Rotary friends who show up, no questions asked. I learned to accept help and to celebrate progress over perfection,” she says.
The book didn’t just tell a story; it reordered her life. She shifted her time toward schools, community programs, and her work with Rotary International, viewing her days less through the lens of tasks and more through the values of kindness, courage, and service.
The Power of Community
Thompson is quick to point out that Coco Mia’s story is not one of solitary perseverance.
“When I saw how many hands it took to bring Coco Mia home, neighbors, strangers, social posts, gentle grooming, and patient medical care, I knew the lesson was bigger,” she recalls. “Community is a verb.”
Her hope is that readers, whether children in classrooms or adults reflecting on their own lives, recognize the ripple effect of kindness. Small acts of care, she believes, can transform fear into hope and isolation into connection.
Lessons in Courage
At its core, Adventures of Coco Mia—LOST is not about heroics but about steady courage.
“Courage can look like asking for help, following safety steps, or being the neighbor who joins the search,” Thompson explains. “For kids, courage might be using their voice; for adults, it might be slowing down and choosing care over hurry.”
It’s a message she hopes resonates far beyond the pages of her book.
Rooted in Wisconsin Values
Growing up on Maple Shade Farm in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, Thompson learned early that life follows rhythms: things bud, bloom, rest, and bloom again. That sense of cycle informs her writing.
“The book mirrors that rhythm: fear, rescue, recovery, and the gentle return to normal,” she says.
Those lessons are personal, but they’re also what Thompson hopes her grandchildren, and young readers everywhere, carry forward: that kindness and community are not abstract ideals, but practical ways of living.
Service as Legacy
Rotary International has been a constant in Thompson’s journey, reinforcing her conviction that giving and receiving help are equally vital.
“Help is a gift to the giver, too,” she reflects. In keeping with that philosophy, she donates $5 from every Rotary Club book sale to Rotary’s Polio Plus Foundation.
Her commitment to service continues through school visits, Rotary talks, and community partnerships, ensuring the book’s impact extends well beyond the printed page.
Giving Back:
$5 from sale of Adventures of Coco Mia – Lost! is donated to the Rotary Polio Plus Foundation
Looking Forward
Though she resists calling it a “movement,” Thompson does see the book as part of a broader return to enduring values. “Kindness, community, and courage are values that resonate with all audiences,” she says.
And yes, there are more stories to come. Future books in the Adventures of Coco Mia series will draw from Coco Mia’s real-life escapades, each carrying forward the same message of resilience and care.
Home, Redefined
For Thompson, the meaning of home has also deepened. It’s a definition as much about daily kindness as it is about place.
“Home is where I am with my very supportive husband Larry, and of course, Coco Mia,” she says. “Home is where love gets practical, where someone slows down to listen, where leashes and seatbelts are unbuckled, and where meals, laughter, and stories wait after hard days.”
The Honor of Collaboration
For us at BPI Color, collaborating with Mary Thompson on her website was a privilege, and a reminder of why storytelling matters. Her ability to turn a frightening moment into a lasting message of courage and community reflects the best of what authors can achieve.
In Adventures of Coco Mia—LOST, Thompson has given readers more than a tale of one small dog. She has offered a model of resilience, service, and the belief that even ordinary lives, faced with extraordinary challenges, can inspire us all.
👉 Learn more at Adventures of Coco Mia.
