It’s happy book birthday for the new paperback editions of Wanted! A Guinea Pig called Henry, and Abandoned! A Lion Called Kiki. Harry the Rescue Dog is celebrating with an updated post on the origin of the lion story – because believe it or not, that’s the truest story in all the Rainbow Street Animal Shelter series (the Rainbow Street Pets book in Australia).
Can you imagine getting a phone call from an airport to say, “You’ve got a parcel here!” – and when you get there, finding out that a friend has sent you a lion cub? That’s what happened to friends of my parents when I was a kid, living in Colorado.
The cub was a lioness, and she was named Cappy. Her father was a cross-eyed lion named Clarence, who starred in Daktari, a TV series set in Africa, but I’m not sure why someone decided to send this cub to our friends – who already had six dogs and a three-legged goat! (And can you imagine how excited my brother and sister and I were when they came to visit us? The cub even met our horse!)
Our friends took wonderful care of Cappy, but of course she grew into a lion, not a big pussy cat. In the end they realized that the best thing for her would be to take her somewhere where she could live more like a lion. It was as heartbreaking as it would be to give up any pet. They chose the zoo at Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado, although she was later sold to the Topeko zoo in Kansas. They visited her there a couple of years later, and she seemed to remember her name when they called her.
That was the happiest ending that little lion could have had in 1967, but when I wrote the story I set it in the 1980s and so was able to make it even happier. I used a wildlife refuge in Zambia because when I phoned the Melbourne Werribee Plains Zoo to ask some questions, I spoke to a vet who was about to return to Zambia to set up a wildlife refuge to look after lions and other native animals.
It also struck me that if the memory of the visiting lion cub had made such an impression on me, it would have had a much bigger effect on a child who'd been given it. So as authors do, I used some bare bones of truth, and fleshed out a story that explains why the Rainbow Street Shelter manager Mona has dedicated her life to animals.
And thanks to my original post when the book first came out, we’re back in touch with the friends who were surprised by that parcel so long ago. A lovely bonus to the story.
Harry's hoping to interview a guinea pig rescuer in a later post. (I don't really trust him to interview guinea pigs…)
As a slightly late celebration of Buster's arrival, I decided to do trailers for the first two books in the Rainbow Street Animal Shelter series: LOST! A Dog Called Bear, and MISSING! A Cat Called Buster. (I'll do one for WANTED! A Guinea Pig Called Henry when I've found the advance reading copy. That may mean cleaning the house first, so don't hold your breath.)
Harvey the Hungry Dog
(from The Adventures of Harvey the Wonder Dog)
by Lise Dominique
Illustrations by Chrissie Vales
State Street Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-9760216-7-4
Children's book, iPad app
Website: Harvey the Wonder Dog
This delightful children's book tells the story of an adorable Labrador named Harvey. From the time he is a cuddly puppy, to his adventures throughout winter, spring, summer and fall, to his friendship with his best dog friend Karma, Harvey is a doggy who takes food VERY SERIOUSLY! However, there's one thing that Harvey hungers more than anything in the world: love.
I had the opportunity to review the i
Pad application and I have to say that it was a throughly enjoyable experience. With just a tap of my finger, the pages open fluidly and smoothly, giving the impression that I have a real book in my hands. The tale is written in an old-fashioned style, with mostly narrative and very little dialogue. The prose has a quiet tone, making this a perfect little book to read to a young child at bedtime. I'm one of those people who believe there can never be too many dog books. I found the illustrations charming with their simple style and soft pastel colors. Harvey will steal the hearts of young and adults alike and I look forward to his next adventure.
And just in case you're wondering... yes, Harvey is based on a real dog named--you guessed it--Harvey!
Find out more on Amazon.
Only 13 days until
How to Raise a Dinosaur is released! The books are in the warehouse. Author copies are heading my way. Review copies are being mailed out. The YouTube video has been uploaded. Book signings are in place. Now all that is left is for millions of people to buy my book!
Hey, a girl can dream big. It's a DINOSAUR book.
I am sharing my pets with you today (Chester the boxer and Hush Puppy the basset hound) because I am an animal lover. And because I am an animal lover, I also want us to take a trip back and remember the book The Incredible Journey by Shelia Burnford. Many of you have probably seen the Disney movie Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey, starring the voices of Michael J. Fox, Sally Field, and Don Ameche as the animals that make their way back home after an incredible journey. There’s not a dry eye in the room when those three lovable pets make their way back at the end. The movie is based on Shelia Burnford’s book.
The book was published in 1961 by Little, Brown the first time. Then it was re-released by Bantam and Delacorte Press in the 1990s. The movie came out in 1993; and of course, it differs from the book as all movies do. But still both are great and wonderful and a good animal story, bringing tears to the eyes of readers and watchers, like some other old classics: Old Yeller and Where the Red Fern Grows. In this story, we are not dealing with any dead dogs though. (You know, there’s so many dead dogs in children’s literature that Gordon Korman wrote the book, No More Dead Dogs!)
If you have animal lovers at home or in your classroom, suggest to them that they read The Incredible Journey. When they are finished, they can watch the movie, and they can compare and contrast the two. Which one did they like better? Why? You can also ask kids to discuss why they think so many recent kids’ movies are based on books like Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs or Where the Wild Things Are. And why do movies differ from the book? These are all interesting discussions or writing topics for children.
So, do you have a pet? What kind? What name? Have a pet story? Have a favorite pet book? Let us all know!
Hi all,
I'm happy to announce that APRIL won a signed print copy of my children's picture book, CRASH!
Congratulations, April!!!!!
Thanks to all who participated and left comments!
That was the happiest ending that little lion could have had in 1967, but when I wrote the story I set it in the 1980s and so was able to make it even happier. I used a wildlife refuge in Zambia because when I phoned the Melbourne Werribee Plains Zoo to ask some questions, I spoke to a vet who was about to return to Zambia to set up a wildlife refuge to look after lions and other native animals. 
It sounds absolutely adorable. What a precious dog. Thanks for sharing!
How cute!
If the inside looks as good as the cover, children will love it!
And the real Harvey is just as cute!
Morgan Mandel
http://morganmandel.blogspot.com
Awww. It looks wonderful! I love it!
iPad, huh? I am officially jealous. That's my next big purchase.
This sound like a fun book. The cover art is wonderful.
Cheryl
Hi Mayra,
I too, adore dogs and love reading books about dogs. Thanks for sharing the review.
Nicole Weaver
http://marieandherfriendthe seaturtle.blogspot.com
Love labs, and the story sounds so cute. Thanks for sharing, I will have to grab a copy.
Terri
I am a big fan of dog books myself! Thanks for reviewing this. I wish I had an ipad!
Sounds like it will be a fun book to read. I like the cover. Enjoyed your review!
This looks so adorable and fun! My kids would love it!