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Letters to a Dog — Piers Torday
Letters from a longed-for pet provide comfort and entertainment for a lonely boy in a heartfelt and gently humorous tale from bestselling author Piers Torday.
Jamie is in hospital waiting for a life-changing operation. And to make a difficult time even harder, he's fallen out with his dad and refuses to speak to him when he comes to visit.
To keep his spirits up, nurse Shirley suggests he writes a letter to the dog he desperately wants to adopt from the local dogs' home. But imagine his surprise when Dog writes back!
Reviews
"A doggy delight: adorable, heart-warming and very funny indeed." -- Abi Elphinstone
"I loved this â€" a paw-fect blend of furry, heartfelt magic!" -- Ross Welford
"A touching story brimming with humour and heart." -- Lisa Thompson
"A gorgeous story about the bravery of one young boy and the power of one mighty dog. Filled with humour and heart, this is a perfect tale (tail?) about how the smallest things can mean the most. And how you should never play monopoly with a hamster." -- Katya Balen
"Torday's first title for Barrington Stoke is a moving, perfectly crafted story about a boy who, while in hospital, exchanges letters with the dog he wants to adopt." â€" The Bookseller
"A moving and heartwarming story, simply told, that doesn't shy away from difficult themes of grief and anger. The humorous black and white illustrations break up the pages into digestible chunks and keep the reader engaged … this would be ideal for any child experiencing loss, or indeed any parent or adult looking for a way to explore a difficult subject. Piers Torday is an award-winning children's author, and he tells Jamie's story with empathy and compassion for all concerned." -- Children's Books Ireland
"Funny, tender, heartbreaking and hopeful … this short novel is full of insight into loss, love and recovery, not to mention the magic dogs can work." -- LoveReading4Kids
"Youngsters will be lapping up this moving, funny and utterly enchanting story â€" about a lonely little boy who longs for pet dog … Given extra warmth and visual power by Alice McKinley's adorable illustrations, this is a little book with BIG messages." â€" Lancashire Post
"A masterclass in empathy, sensitivity and love … Not only is it a beautiful story about a family reconnecting, it shows the difficulty boys can face with exploring their feelings … Heartfelt, funny and courageous, it's a paw-fect story!" -- Check 'Em Out Books, blog
About the author
Piers Torday began his career in theatre and then television as a producer and writer. He is the author of the Last Wild trilogy, titles within which have won the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize, been shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize and the UKLA Award, and nominated for the Carnegie Medal. In 2016, There May Be A Castle was a Times Children's Book of the Year. In regular demand as a speaker at schools and festivals, Piers is also a reading helper with Beanstalk, a former judge on the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize, a Patron of Reading at Heathmere School and a trustee of the Pleasance Theatre.
Jamie is in hospital waiting for a life-changing operation. And to make a difficult time even harder, he's fallen out with his dad and refuses to speak to him when he comes to visit.
To keep his spirits up, nurse Shirley suggests he writes a letter to the dog he desperately wants to adopt from the local dogs' home. But imagine his surprise when Dog writes back!
Reviews
"A doggy delight: adorable, heart-warming and very funny indeed." -- Abi Elphinstone
"I loved this â€" a paw-fect blend of furry, heartfelt magic!" -- Ross Welford
"A touching story brimming with humour and heart." -- Lisa Thompson
"A gorgeous story about the bravery of one young boy and the power of one mighty dog. Filled with humour and heart, this is a perfect tale (tail?) about how the smallest things can mean the most. And how you should never play monopoly with a hamster." -- Katya Balen
"Torday's first title for Barrington Stoke is a moving, perfectly crafted story about a boy who, while in hospital, exchanges letters with the dog he wants to adopt." â€" The Bookseller
"A moving and heartwarming story, simply told, that doesn't shy away from difficult themes of grief and anger. The humorous black and white illustrations break up the pages into digestible chunks and keep the reader engaged … this would be ideal for any child experiencing loss, or indeed any parent or adult looking for a way to explore a difficult subject. Piers Torday is an award-winning children's author, and he tells Jamie's story with empathy and compassion for all concerned." -- Children's Books Ireland
"Funny, tender, heartbreaking and hopeful … this short novel is full of insight into loss, love and recovery, not to mention the magic dogs can work." -- LoveReading4Kids
"Youngsters will be lapping up this moving, funny and utterly enchanting story â€" about a lonely little boy who longs for pet dog … Given extra warmth and visual power by Alice McKinley's adorable illustrations, this is a little book with BIG messages." â€" Lancashire Post
"A masterclass in empathy, sensitivity and love … Not only is it a beautiful story about a family reconnecting, it shows the difficulty boys can face with exploring their feelings … Heartfelt, funny and courageous, it's a paw-fect story!" -- Check 'Em Out Books, blog
About the author
Piers Torday began his career in theatre and then television as a producer and writer. He is the author of the Last Wild trilogy, titles within which have won the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize, been shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize and the UKLA Award, and nominated for the Carnegie Medal. In 2016, There May Be A Castle was a Times Children's Book of the Year. In regular demand as a speaker at schools and festivals, Piers is also a reading helper with Beanstalk, a former judge on the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize, a Patron of Reading at Heathmere School and a trustee of the Pleasance Theatre.
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