Tag Archives: Rescue animals

Sep25

Wandi – Favel Parrett

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Hachette

September 2021

ISBN: 9780734420633

RRP: $19.99

When Wandi, the tiny dingo pup, was found in a Victorian backyard in 2019, it was unlikely that anyone would have predicted the lucky canine’s rise to social media superstar status.

“Since then he is currently on about 47,000 followers on Instagram — and that’s across the world.”

The remarkable story of Wandi’s rescue has been well publicised indeed, and now critically acclaimed author, Favel Parrett, has turned her skilled hand to crafting a beautiful narrative of the dingo pup’s journey for young readers.

Beginning with his first few weeks of life with his litter mates and parents high in the Alpine snow country, to his almost fatal snatching by, likely, a wedge-tailed eagle, and ultimately, to his new home in the Australian Dingo Foundation’s sanctuary with his favourite playmate, Hermione, Wandi’s story will delight readers. More importantly it will draw their attention to the plight of Australia’s native canine and, particularly, the less common varieties.

Simple line drawings throughout add even more interest to the dingo pup’s story and, as a slim volume, it will prove a very accessible read for children from as young as Year 2. For your more able newly independent readers it will feel very much like ‘grown up’ book with its beautiful binding and cover art (which has the illusion of being hand-painted – just beautiful!).

The book concludes with some easily digested information from sanctuary supervisor (and Wandi’s very good friend), David Newman, along with ideas for how children can get involved with helping the dingo population. This is followed by a Q&A with Favel Parrett, which particularly explains her personal connection with Wandi and the sanctuary.

All in all this is just a superb little true-life narrative which readers will enjoy and about which they will no doubt become enthusiastic and be spurred into action.

Highly recommended for readers from around 8 years upwards.

Sep27

Nala’s World: One man, his rescue cat and a bike ride around the globe – Dean Nicholson

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Hachette Australia

SEP 29, 2020 | 9781529327991 | RRP $32.99

When Dean Nicholson set off on his cycling journey around the world he had little idea that his epic trip and his life would become an Instagram sensation after he picked up a tiny stray kitten in a remote area of the mountains between Montenegro and Bosnia.

Thirty-year-old Dean had been living an unsatisfactory existence in Dunbar, Scotland when he and a friend conceived of an idea to cycle the world. The pair didn’t last all that long but when Dean rescued little Nala he acquired a travelling companion who would not only become his best friend but empower him to become a fully-realised animal and environmental activist in the very best of ways.

While he already had a small following of friends and family on his Instagram feed, it was after his rescue and subsequent postings of Nala that his global audience exploded exponentially. With his Insta posts and YouTube channel Dean has not only endeared himself and his feisty little companion to thousands but has raised thousands of dollars to support small and struggling rescue shelters and charities in places that generally go unnoticed.

Their travels together of the past two years have fascinated their followers through all the ups and downs of life on the road – good times, difficult times, sickness, health, tragedies and celebrations. Their loyal fans have supported them, helped in practical and emotional multitudes of ways and cheered them on proving time and again the generosity and kindness of strangers that can still be found, even in these troubled times. And I deliberately stress that last as the book concludes with the first frightening and sweeping wave of the Covid pandemic – fortunately, Dean was able to narrowly escape being locked down in the UK away from Nala in Hungary. Coronavirus may have put the brakes on Dean’s dream trip, but nothing can stop this indomitable pair as they forge their way forward, helping whomever they can with what they can.

This hugely heart-warming and inspirational story will further Dean’s mission to support those who need it as well providing an enjoyable read whether you are a cat-lover or not. I know that when this goes onto my shelves with the other new true-life and biography books I’ve recently added, it will be snapped up immediately by one of my many readers for whom this will be an excellent follow-on from A Cat Named Bob especially.

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Check out Dean and Nala at 1bike1world