Because a lot of the time they are visiting a hospital and then especially the children’s ward of the hospital. Hospital Dog’ is a very warm, well intentioned and delivered very lovely story of the joy brought about to the children’s ward by the eponymous Hospital Dog. I studied Drama and French at Bristol University, where I met Malcolm, a guitar-playing medic to whom I’m now married. The illustrations are inclusive in terms of ethnicity and disability which make this a brilliant book for all to read. Graeme Hall said: “I’ve been privileged to follow highly skilled specialists behind the scenes at one of the country’s top veterinary hospitals recently, as they give hope to some very poorly dogs and their worried owners.

The Detective Dog" has sold over half a million copies and has been translated into over 20 languages to date.

I particularly like the signature rhyming style of Julia Donaldson and know that it will be a hit with my students and my own children. This story was written some time ago inspired by Julia Donaldson’s visit to The Evelina Hospital in London but was recently published and has taken on a new significance with events of this year. I grew up in a tall Victorian London house with my parents, grandmother, aunt, uncle, younger sister Mary and cat Geoffrey (who was really a prince in disguise.

After their breakfast and a swim in the sea, Dot and her owner Rose jump on the bus to the hospital. She was the UK Children’s Laureate 2011–13 and has been honoured with a CBE for Services to Literature. But above all The hospital dog is funny and lively, entertaining and absorbing as Dot careers around the hospital, making everyone smile.

Join our community to get personalised book suggestions, extracts straight to your inbox, 10% off RRPs, and to change children’s lives. In another heart wrenching case, Graeme accompanies the veterinary physiotherapy team as they work with 12-week-old Sussex Spaniel, Elton, who requires rehabilitation to regain his ability to walk following a debilitating home accident. We want a song about throwing crumpled-up wrapping paper into the bin” was a typical request from the BBC. We loved the previous collaboration between this pair on 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗗𝗼𝗴 and this book is equally as good. And then came a day, where Dot was being knocked down by a car in an accident (when he was trying to save a kid).