COEUR d’ALENE — Stewy will live forever.

At least, as a statue at McEuen Park.

Students, teachers and parents gathered in the rain Wednesday to witness the immortalization of Stewy, the lovable dog and subject of local author Kristin Cooper-Herby’s children's books.

“That’s the most rewarding part, seeing all of these kids,” Cooper-Herby said. 

The small sculpture at the entrance of the McEuen Park playground was created by artist Terry Lee and sponsored by Eve Knudtsen of Knudtsen Chevrolet.

"It's been a phenomenal pleasure," Lee said. "It's just another fun thing I got to do." 

Several of Lee's statues are immortalized throughout the city. Miners, suffragettes, loggers, moose, mice and now, Stewy. 

Cooper-Herby and her licensed therapy dog, Stewy, published their first book, “Stewy Baby Finds a Home," in 2015. Inspired by her own daughter’s reading struggles, the Stewy Baby series morphed into a local reading initiative that has reached thousands of children over the past 11 years. 

There are currently seven books published, chronicling important moments in a dog’s life from “Stewy Baby and the Cone of Shame" to “Stewy Baby Gets a Boyfriend."

When asked for their favorite things about the books, students shouted, “The dog," "They are so funny,” and “My teachers reading them."

Stewy's adventures and life lessons have been important not just for young readers, but for teachers as well. 

"It motivates the kids to get excited about reading," said Julie Cooper, a third grade teacher at Hayden Canyon Charter. "It inspires them to continue reading, they get to hear about the places they've been before and things they have done."

The series illustrated by Blake Coke is narrated entirely from Stewy’s point-of-view. It blends humor, heart and gentle life lessons.

In 2022, Venture High School students honored Cooper-Herby and her four-legged friend with “Stewy’s Corner," a pink and white structure with books and dog treats that acts as a free library at 16th Street and Coeur d’Alene Avenue.

Cooper-Herby’s and Stewy’s next canine caper is titled, “Stewy Baby discovers the Pura Vida and Costa Rica." Readers and fans of the mini-Australian Corgi and her adventures can expect the book to hit shelves soon.

Cooper-Herby and her nonprofit, “Stories with Stewy," have given away around 16,000 books to kids, classrooms, hospitals and parents. 

“People always ask me how many books I have sold," said Cooper-Herby, "I tell them, ‘I don't know,' but I can tell you how many I have given away.”

The duo has organized public readings, all with the goal of helping young readers gain confidence and develop a love for reading.

“It’s great to know that we are inspiring kids to grow as readers,” said Cooper-Herby,

Wednesday, kids screamed, begged and dashed to see Stewy, who has become quite the local celebrity among young children. 

"They know Stewy as a teacher," said Michele Troxel. "It shows the effect one dog can have on kids in one town."

    Jackson Widmeyer's dog, Ringo, takes a long gander at the statue.