Exclusive: Beth Stern Says Her New Children's Book 'Coco and Stephen, Together Forever' Has a 'Powerful' Message

Though Beth Stern has two children's books already, she knew her latest, titled Coco and Stephen, Together Forever, which debuted on May 5, was worth releasing.

"People have asked me to write another, but I always said I’d only do it if I felt truly inspired. Then along came a special kitten named Coco Melon and a rabbit named Stephen. My husband named Stephen, and my granddaughter named Coco. They were both fosters who met and became best friends," the 53-year-old exclusively tells Morning Honey.

She adds, "Coco is disabled — she requires a lot of care. From the moment I brought her home, I knew I’d never let her go. Then Stephen came along, and they formed this incredible bond. Every day, he licks the exact spot on her spine where she was injured. He somehow knows where it hurts and takes care of her. I knew they could never be separated. That, to me, is magic. And that’s when I decided to share their story and hopefully open up conversations about fostering and rescuing — especially with children."

The tome is about an "unlikely friendship between two different species. It’s really about love, joy, loyalty and embracing the 'perfectly imperfect,'" she explains. "Coco is disabled, and Stephen was a rabbit that someone discarded. But to him, she’s perfect. That message is so powerful. At the end of the book, I include real photos of them and share their actual story. I want kids to see that these are real animals and hopefully start asking questions — and maybe even be inspired to adopt."

The blonde babe had her two pets for "almost a year" when the idea came to her. "But when children would visit and see a rabbit and kitten cuddling, playing, and grooming each other, they’d laugh and ask questions. That’s when it clicked. I could use their story to talk about fostering, responsibility, and even things like why rabbits are a lot of work — especially around holidays like Easter when people get them impulsively," she reveals.

Stern, who is a prominent animal advocate and foster parent who has saved thousands of cats and kittens, largely through her work with North Shore Animal League America, is always thrilled when kids ask questions after reading the tomes.

"I explain that fostering means caring for animals, getting them medical help, and preparing them for adoption. I also emphasize adopting from shelters instead of buying from pet stores. Even if someone wants a specific breed, there are rescues for that. You don’t need to buy animals — there are so many in need of homes," she shares.

"It’s everything. Shelters are overwhelmed, especially during kitten season. When people adopt instead of buy, they’re saving lives and freeing up space for more animals. All proceeds from this book go to North Shore Animal League America. Everything I do is for the animals," she adds.

From a young age, Stern was always rescuing animals. "My family always took in animals — neighbors would drop off guinea pigs they didn’t want anymore. All of our pets were rescues. Then I met my husband, Howard [Stern], who’s also a huge animal lover. We started rescuing together — first dogs, then cats, then rabbits. I think it’s just in my blood," she says.

Ultimately, Beth wants "people to be open-minded — especially about cats. A lot of people say they don’t like cats, but I think that can change with exposure."

"Anyone who has had an animal knows how rewarding it is. I just want to encourage more people to adopt and experience that joy," she adds.

Beth also isn't opposed to writing more stories down the line.

"Possibly. Coco and Stephen are still with me, so who knows what adventures they’ll have. If more magic happens, I’d love to share it," she says.

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