Although we don’t have one ourselves we absolutely adore sharing stories about dogs so jumped at the chance to take part in the tour for the first book in a brand new doggie series. We’ve had the book for a while now and am thrilled to share our thoughts with you today during our stop on the tour.
About The Book
Harry is a mischievous young dog, adored by his family, Dad and Mum, Maisie (8) and Max (5). When the family leave him on his own he creates chaos. Dad demands, “That bad dog must go!” Alone and sad in bed that evening, Max asks, “Can anyone help?” How will the Thunkies respond to his call?
Review
Like any young dog Harry is still learning and striving to find his place within the family. Unfortunately Harry thinks he is the top dog in their ‘pack’ and this leads to all-sorts of chaos when he is left home alone worrying about his family. Dad wants to get rid of Harry after his destruction of their home which is the last thing Masie & Max want, but will the Thunkies® be able to help Mum and Dad understand their furry friend enough to let him stay?
Home Alone Harry is a beautifully written story with a fantastic lesson about animal behaviour at it’s heart. I absolutely adore sharing stories with Leo that have an educational edge to them and this book is a wonderful example. Although we don’t have dogs at home Leo had a bad experience with one in a public place when he was much younger and as a result is extremely wary of them. This story offers a perfect way to explain to him that dogs are different to us and the Thunkies® explain this using child-friendly, relateable advice perfectly pitched for his level of understanding. By sharing this story with him and educating him about dog behaviours I hope it will help him combat the fear that still lingers. It’s clear from the way this book is structured that it has been thoroughly researched and it’s comforting to know the vast experience the authors hold means the information included is accurate.
The illustrations in this book really help bring the story to life using colourful, bright depictions that compliment the story perfectly. The book is aimed at children under 6 however I feel it is a rather ‘wordy’ story and therefore may be more appropriate for children in the upper end of that age range, especially when it comes to discussion’s and understanding. Having said that it’s never too young to start educating and Home Alone Harry is a delightful read that children and adults alike will fall in love with and we are excited to see what the Thunkies® get up to in the next book!
About The Author’s
Jerry Rhodes’ life-long research and teaching is the inspiration behind ‘Home Alone Harry’, this first book in a series for children featuring the cartoon characters, Thunkies®. After completing his degree and teacher training at Oxford University, Jerry’s career as a school-master was cut short by polio. He changed course to a management career in industry, discovered his talents for creativity, and formed his world-wide consultancy to collaborate with international organisations. A special project with Philips led to the discovery of ‘Thinking-Intentions’, to which he has now given the playful name, Thunkies®. Jerry writes his books from his weather-beaten old farmhouse in the Gloucestershire Cotswolds.
Rachael Messiter, a Dog Listener, uses the approach known as Amichien® Bonding pioneered by Jan Fennell. Rachael has her own practice, Talking Paws, based in Staffordshire. Previously she lived with wolves for close on two years in Colorado, USA, to learn how packs work. She has identified a group of issues that dog owners experience that are due to the well-meaning but flawed behaviours of owners, rather than ‘nuisance’ dogs. How to properly avoid and resolve such troublesome issues will be the theme of each book in the series Thunkies® love Dogs.
Author Links: Website | Store | Facebook | Instagram
About The Illustrator
Nicky Hill is an illustrator and storyteller from Winterbourne near Bristol. Her artwork is featured throughout the Thunkies® Love Dogs books, bringing a bright, vibrant style that captures the imagination.
A great lover of animals both wild and domestic, Nicky also illustrates and writes her own series of books about ‘The Wotton Pack’; a group of inquisitive pooches who spend their days and nights having many adventures. She currently lives with her own pack of three dogs in Wotton-under-Edge, a small town in Gloucestershire, where she also co-runs the shop called ‘The Collective’.
Home Alone Harry is available to purchase from the Thunkies® Store
Fraser’s Fun House 