Letters to a Dog

Piers Torday author Alice McKinley illustrator

Format:Paperback

Publisher:HarperCollins Publishers

Published:8th May '25

Should be back in stock very soon

Letters to a Dog cover

(Dyslexia-friendly)

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.

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 dog home. But imagine his surprise when Dog writes back!

Particularly suitable for readers aged 9+ with a reading age of 8.

"A doggy delight: adorable, heart-warming and very funny indeed." — Abi Elphinstone

"I loved this – 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." – 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, sweet and gentle, Letters to a Dog is a beautiful story about one boy’s grief and hopes for the future. Told honestly through a series of letters, readers are privileged to hear Jamie’s most private thoughts about his mother’s death, his relationship with his dad and his wish for a pet dog." — Scope for Imagination, blog

"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. I loved Jamie’s vulnerability and honesty, traits really important to model to young boys in particular. Heartfelt, funny and courageous, it’s a paw-fect story!" — Check 'Em Out Books, blog

ISBN: 9781800901001

Dimensions: 198mm x 130mm x 5mm

Weight: 140g

80 pages