It's completely aimed at children meeting dogs and how to do this the right way. Beautifully illustrated on every page, the pictures as well as the 'dog language' from Worzel demonstrate how to approach a dog when you are a stranger, and also what not to do. Very young children will understand perfectly from the pictures alone and will learn valuable lessons whilst enjoying the story. A quality well made hardback book and the first in a series aimed at dogs and children having fun together whilst being safe and happy. The book also includes various notes to help parents and teachers.- Carley Phillips- Dog Training Weekly. The fourth instalment of Worzel Wooface's adventures, and the first in a new series for children, Worzel Says Hello! Will you be My Friend? is the beginning of a beautiful friendship between dog and child. Told from the perspective of the literary Lurcher, this delightfully illustrated story tells the tale of a safe introduction between one scared dog and a little girl. Many adults will have fond memories of their childhood pets, but the relationship can be a nonstarter if behaviour around dogs is not taught or is misunderstood. As a dog lover and parent herself, author Catherine Pickles wanted to create a fun, educational book to help children understand dog behaviour so they could have the best experience. In this story, Worzel's words are accompanied by colourful watercolour illustration by Chantal Bourgonje, which depict the dos and don'ts, and have been approved by a canine expert. There are also some helpful tips for parents, guardians and teachers. Watch as Worzel goes from shy and scared to girl's best friend in this delightful read, fit for any child's book collection. - Dogs Monthly. A beautifully illustrated book with sound advice to small children on making friends with dogs with the help of Worzel, a very shy lurcher. This is a triumph of a book. Kids can easily engage with the pictures, and learn to see things from Worzel's point of view. And the printing is very accessible for junior readers. Absolutely the perfect gift for any family where a new pet is being introduced. - Driving with Dogs. The paw ripens on the cover invite small hands to pick up this fabumazing jewel and make it their very own. The forward, introduction and parental advice are essential cues for an adult to assume Worzel's persona. This is a definite read-in-bed goodnight cuddle concept picture storybook! The vocabulary is within the grasp of a beginner reader. It is a poignant tale that will expand a young mind with its rich vocabulary, vivid engagement with verbs and clever anthropomorphism. The exquisitely crafted watercolours enhance the story and invite young minds to enlarge upon it with subplots of their own. Each picture invites a child to internalise and interpret Worzel's dilemma. Young children need to learn to respect the personal boundaries of other people. This book conceptualises respecting the private boundaries of another species. The delightfully accurate illustrations build observation and interpretation skills. The pictures and text lead the child to connect what they have learned about human boundaries with what Worzel is teaching them about canine parameters. This vibrant tale integrates the concepts of two languages. The connection between pictures, written and spoken English is logically interwoven with respecting canine kinesics in this quirky non-threatening poetic whimsy. Worzel says hello! Will you be my friend?- an accurate, aesthetic, artistic, literary delight! Hubble & Hattie has set a formidable benchmark for canine educators opting for the popular picture storybook format.- Geelong Obedience Dog Club. Oh, but this book is gorgeous. I fell for Worzel Wooface as soon as I saw him and I had murderous intentions towards the giant of a man who thought that it was alright to threaten a small puppy with a newspaper and shout at him. When you meet a god you don't know what sort of life he's had, so this approach will work with all dogs. Some will come dashing up to you, happy and confident and wanting to play. At the other end of the scale there will be those dogs like our beloved Kia who in nearly fourteen years only let a few very special people into her life. Respect the dog's wishes and you may well make a friend for life. The illustrations are gorgeous. Chantal Bourgonje has Worzel perfectly: the dog who whispers a woof at a hedgehog whilst trying o hide behind a waste bin half his size, but who's frightened out of his skin by a frog. Every child (and an awful lot of adults) should read this book: it could make their whole lives a lot happier. And we might have fewer frightened dogs like Worzel.- The Bookbag. Children and dogs are often best friends. Many adults will fondly remember a childhood dog who helped them through a hard time simply by being a companion, or curling up with them when they needed comfort. Sadly, though, dogs are often misunderstood by both adults and children; their behaviour being misread. it is important to remember that dogs and children should always be supervised when together, so that everyone stays happy and safe. In "Worzel Says Hello! Will You Be My Friend?", Catherine Pickles and her Lurcher, Worzel, take children ages 4 to 7 on a journey, where they will gain an understanding of how dogs think and feel, so that all kids can have a wonderful relationship with the dogs in their lives, and all dogs can feel happy, safe, and loved. Deftly written by Catherine Pickles in an engagingly rhythmic poetry that is charmingly illustrated by Chantal Bourgonje, "Worzel Says Hello! Will You Be My Friend?" is unreservedly and enthusiastically recommended for family, daycare centre, preschool, elementary school, and community library picture book collections for children. - Midwest Book Review. Worzel says hello! Will you be my friend? is a must-have book for any family with young children who own or are looking to take on a new dog. As well as being a great bedtime read for children, it would be good to see this book used in schools to help children who may not come across dogs in the home environment and not have the opportunity to discover what beautiful friendships our four-legged friends can bring. - Pet Owners Association. A delightfully illustrated children's book on how to teach children to interact with their own dogs and the pets of people they meet. The author, Catherine Pickles, in her introduction explains this is what he mum taught her about being around animals ... 'These are the lessons I passed on to my children, and they are skilled that every child should know.' Through Catherine's gently rhyming stanza, Worzel explains how quiet and calm behaviour will help trust new children he meets. The yeoman's work is in the illustrations, and Chantal does not disappoint. Her drawings of a dog's various stages of emotion are sweet and well depicted, including subtle arrows to show children how to stroke a dog, where and which direction. This book could be a nice item to hand out for special clients or for those among your family and friends with young children, whether they have a dog in the family or not. It could be a popular bedtime story (quick read) for toddlers and a real hit for those just beginning to read. - Association of Professional Dog Trainers.