Sammy the Spaniel: Book One: The Frightened Spaniel

Sammy the Spaniel — Book One: The Frightened Spaniel

Sammy was frightened. He was cold, and he was all alone.

Then one kind lady offered gentle words, a warm bed, good food and lots of love.

This is a gentle rhyming picture book for children aged 4 to 8, written by a social worker and play therapist. Across eight illustrated spreads, Sammy moves from a cold, lonely yard to a home where he feels safe, and children are invited to follow him at their own pace.

At the bottom of every page there is a Let's talk question. "How do you think Sammy feels here? Have you ever felt like that?" There are no right answers. Children often find it easier to talk about a character's feelings than their own, so Sammy goes first, and they can follow when they are ready.

Who it's for

Parents and carers reading with a child facing change: a new home, a new school, a family going through a difficult time.

Social workers and play therapists looking for a warm, low pressure way into direct work.

Teachers and support staff working on feelings, safety and belonging.

The book closes with a short note for grown ups on how to use the Let's talk questions.

What you get

A 14 page PDF with all eight full colour spreads, plus the title, note for grown ups and about the author pages. Best read on a tablet or laptop held in landscape, and it prints well at home on A4. Yours to keep, with no expiry.

Written and illustrated by Nicola Bond, a social worker and play therapist who has spent years supporting children through change, worry and family upheaval. Sammy's story grew out of that work, and out of adopting a frightened spaniel of her own.