The Tales of Charlie Wags: New York City
Written by Sofie Wells and Ali Barclay
Illustrated by Sanna Sjöström
Ages: 3-7 | 32 Pages
Publisher: Kendam Press (2025) | ISBN: 979-8-9900050-0-6
Publisher’s Book Summary: Charlie Wags is a seemingly ordinary pup. He sits on demand, is appropriately needy, and only sometimes begs for treats.
But Charlie has an extraordinary secret. He loves to travel the world and has a special trick to do so: his wagging tail can whisk him away to far-off places.
This time, he’s off to the Big Apple!
Embark on a panoramic tour of New York City led by ever-curious pup Charlie Wags! From the serenity of Central Park to the dazzling lights of Times Square, Charlie explores the city that never sleeps before returning home for bedtime.
Wherever you may be, The World Is Just a Wag Away.™
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MY REVIEW
Charlie seems like a typical pet dog. He lives with a family in a house with a white picket fence and has his own sleeping basket and water bowl. But Charlie also has a special ability to give his tail a wag and travel anywhere in the world. On this particular day he decides to visit New York City. A map with numbered stops on it helps readers track all the iconic landmarks that he visits around town. Rhyming text describes the adventures of the day - having a hotdog from a street vendor’s cart, enjoying a ferry ride out to the Statue of Liberty, and visiting One World Trade Center. Watercolor style illustrations show Charlie peering down from the top of the Empire State Building and using opera glasses to watch a ballet recital on Broadway. When Charlie returns home, readers see him adding a photo of the Statue of Liberty to a group of images hanging on the wall of the house which includes the Sydney Opera House and the Roman Colosseum. Has he really visited all the places that are shown? The back of the book contains a helpful section with thumbnail images of all the landmarks and brief descriptions. A question that will encourage readers to make a personal connection to the story accompanies each description. For instance, the Times Square entry mentions the New Year’s Eve ball drop and asks if readers have ever seen the event and what they thought of it. A fun introduction to the sights of NYC for young readers.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sister-author duo Sofie Wells and Ali Barclay form the writing team behind The Tales of Charlie Wags picture book series.
As daughters of immigrants, their family heritage exposed the sisters to the importance of cultural diversity early on. Their parents prioritized showing them the world, even on a tight budget, instilling in them the idea that travel is one of the best forms of education.
Knowing that not all children had the chance to explore the world firsthand, they put pen to paper to create a tale about a globetrotting dog. They hoped their story would allow young readers to experience the wonders of the world without ever having to leave their homes.
Their series mission is simple: provide a conversational understanding of the world’s most famous cities through charming stories that make far-off places accessible to every child and family.
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ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
Sanna Sjöström, known professionally as Sannadorable, has loved art her whole life. With an extensive background in watercolor painting, she found it increasingly difficult to find the time and energy for her art after having children. Realizing how quickly she could access her iPad, Sanna began experimenting with digital art, skillfully mimicking the look of watercolor.
Today, Sanna illustrates children’s books and also creates posters, cards, and digital illustration tools. Through her creations, she aims to bring joy and smiles to people’s faces.
Sanna’s distinctive style—rooted in her deep appreciation for nature and her love for finding beauty in the ordinary—brings iconic cities to life in enchanting, rose-colored hues throughout The Tales of Charlie Wags series.
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