Sally Barns (text) and Anil Tortop (illustrator), Rock Dogs, Affirm Press, July 2024, 32 pp., RRP $22.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781922930446
The Howlers are not your ordinary rock band, but like all small-town rockers Dan the dachshund, Barry the bulldog, Garry the greyhound, and Sally the springer have mega dreams of making it big.
When their one big chance comes as an opening act for big timers HISS, can they deliver the goods?
Sally Barns gives us a hilarious, rock ‘n’ and rhyme story sure to make readers want to pick up an instrument, or at the very least cheer for some rock dogs on the cusp of making it big!
Exploring themes such as teamwork, resilience and pursuing dreams, young readers are in for a treat. The story is well paced and as with all good comedy, the humour is well-timed with its use of language and wordplay. Most of all, readers will engage with these doggy characters in pursuit of their rock dreams.
Each rock dog is captured brilliantly by Anil Tortop with colourful and quirky traits. The cherry on top is the endpaper illustrations of cleverly adapted rock band posters with a twist!
The rock band we never knew we needed, and an ode to 80’s rockers and canines (it’s all in the hair), Rock dogs is a delightful debut picture book from Sally Barns about following your dreams.
Reviewed by Shelley Stephens
