AustLit

'Angus and Elsa have moved house, and finally they have time and space for a dog!

'The family adopt a rescue dog to give her a second chance. But do they really know how much work is involved in training and caring for a rescue dog, and winning back her trust?

'With every family member pitching in, Reggie slowly changes from a sad and frightened dog to a friendly, well-mannered family member, and one day it’s Reggie’s turn to rescue someone, making the family proud and happy. A beautifully illustrated and heart- warming story, Reggie the Rescue Dog is about responsibility, commitment, making good choices and enjoying the benefits that wonderful dogs can give us.' (Publication summary)

'Lester loves books, children, and his job as a library dog. Children wait eagerly for their turn to read to him, and Lester s the perfect listener.

'But Lester does more than listen to stories. He inspires children to read with confidence, helps them deal with emotions, sorts out squabbles, teaches responsibility, and makes everyone laugh.

'At a time when more and more schools have library and school
dogs, Lester the Library Dog is a perfect fit for school, preschool, and public libraries. This book shows a day in the life of one library dog and the impact he has, whilst emphasising the team effort and responsibility of having a dog in a school community.' (Publication summary)

'Noah is visiting Grandma and Grandpa in the city and he’s in for a big surprise – he meets Gus, Grandpa’s new dog. Grandpa cannot see well, and Gus is his guide dog. Now, instead of being at home a lot, Grandpa is out nearly every day! Noah follows along with Grandma and sees Grandpa ride on a bus, find road crossings and seats, and avoid obstacles, all by using teamwork. Gus even avoids an accident by refusing to move because he can see something that Grandpa cannot!

'Written in a sensitive and friendly style and beautifully illustrated, Gus the guide dog is a lovely educational story about the teamwork and close bond between a man with low vision and his guide dog.' (Publication summary)

'Lily is visiting Auntie Beth and Uncle Jake on their alpaca farm. This visit is particularly exciting because Lily is going to meet Harriet, Auntie Beth’s new dog. Auntie Beth can’t hear, and Harriet is her hearing assistance dog. At the farm, Lily looks on as Harriet lets Auntie Beth know about approaching visitors and household sounds and saves her from near disaster!

'Written in a sensitive and friendly style and beautifully illustrated, Harriet the hearing dog is a lovely educational story about the work of hearing assistance dogs.

'Gina Dawson has written several children’s books about working dogs, including the Next Door’s Dog series.' (Publication summary)

'Next Door’s Dog is a Veteran’s Dog is the fourth book about working dogs, written by Gina Dawson to educate children about the roles of Assistance and Therapy Dogs in modern society and the invaluable work they do.

'Veteran Joe and his family have moved in next door to Lucas. Dad and Joe are good mates who served in the military together. They both look well and healthy, but Joe is troubled by memories that make him anxious, angry or sad. That’s why he has Poppy, an Assistance Dog, who goes with him everywhere.

'When Lucas sees Joe getting off the bus with Poppy by his side, he wants to know more. He listens to Dad but doesn’t really understand how Poppy helps Joe – until he sees it for himself.

'At a café Lucas looks on while Poppy keeps watch, stays close to Joe, and allows him to relax and enjoy the celebration without worrying about what is happening behind him. That’s when Lucas begins to understand the wonderful work that Poppy does to help Joe to live a full life. He also learns that the way people look does not always tell the whole story.

'Next Door’s Dog is a Veteran’s Dog is a sensitively written, unique children’s book with many messages, including educating children about PTSD and anxiety, invisible disability, the work of veterans and first responders, correct behaviour around Assistance Dogs, and most of all, about the unique bond between a man and his dog, and how they look out for each other.

'Written in a way that shows compassion and respect, this book is educational and relevant in a time where PTSD, anxiety and mental health issues are becoming more prevalent, particularly in Veterans and First responders.'

Source : publisher's blurb

'Leah lives next door to Nan. Every week Nan and her dog Monty visit sick people in hospital. Today Leah is going too. At the hospital Leah looks on while Monty makes people laugh, remember, learn, feel comforted and make plans to get well. She sees that Monty is very special, he is a Therapy Dog.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Grace wants to be able to do everything other children do and now that she has Roxie she can. If Grace needs help, Roxie knows exactly what to do.

'With insightful illustrations and written in a sensitive and friendly style, Next Door’s Dog Goes to School is about understanding the important role of dogs in our society, and how they potentially change people’s lives.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Next Door’s Dog Has A Job Picture book provides age appropriate information for young children, including:

• Disabilities can be diverse and invisible
• Assistance Dogs come in many shapes and sizes
• Assistance Dogs help people in a variety of ways, and
• There is an appropriate code of behavior around a working Assistance Dog. Assistance Dogs are highly trained dogs that assist their human companions in a number of ways.

'These include, but are not limited to, providing assistance to those with vision, hearing and mobility impairments, epilepsy, autism and mental health conditions including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and anxiety. The times when only Labradors and Retrievers were trained for this role have long passed, and many breeds are now used. Most of us are aware of teaching children to be “dog smart” and not approach unknown dogs in any situation. However the novelty of seeing a dog in a supermarket, restaurant or other public place where that may not be the norm can be a fascinating attraction to a young child. 

'Children should be aware of the physical or emotional difficulty that may be imposed on the dog’s handler when the dog is distracted. Discuss with the child the importance of the work these dogs perform as a team with their human companions. Emphasise that the relationship between dog and handler is a two way one, and that the dog is not just doing a job but is a highly valued, much loved and well cared for family member. This lovely illustrated book gives the reader a journey of the dog next door and his job.'  (Publication summary)