ABOUT THE BOOK
Written by Ali Barclay and Sofie Wells
Illustrated by Sanna Sjöström
Ages: 3-7 | 40 Pages
Publisher: Kendam Press (2025) | ISBN: 979-8-9900050-3-7
Publisher’s Book Summary: Charlie Wags is a seemingly ordinary pup. He asks for belly rubs, plays fetch, and uses his “I’m innocent” look when he is in fact guilty.
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 Paris, France!
Embark on a panoramic tour of Paris led by ever-curious pup, Charlie Wags! From the elegant art in the Louvre to the sparkling Eiffel Tower, Charlie explores the City of Lights 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. But Charlie also has a special ability to give his tail a wag and travel anywhere in the world - including Paris, France. A map with numbered stops on it helps readers track all the iconic landmarks that he visits in the City of Lights. Rhyming text describes the adventures of the day - having a croissant at a sidewalk cafe (while wearing a stylish French beret), enjoying a cruise down the Seine, and visiting the Palace of Versailles. Watercolor style illustrations show Charlie peering down from the top of the Arc de Triomphe and admiring the stained glass windows in the cathedral of Notre Dame. As he stops to see the Eiffel Tower all lit up for the evening there is a matching twinkle in his own eyes. When Charlie returns home, readers see him adding a photo of the tower to a group of images hanging on the wall of the house which includes Big Ben and the pyramids. 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 entry on the Mona Lisa and the Louvre asks, “If you got to have your own masterpiece in the Louvre, what would you paint?” A fun introduction to the sights of Paris for young readers.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sister-author duo Ali Barclay and Sofie Wells form the writing team behind The Tales of Charlie Wags picture book series. The series offers young explorers a conversational understanding of the world’s most famous cities.
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. This instilled in them the idea that travel is one of the best forms of education.
Recognizing that not all children had the chance to explore the world firsthand, Sofie and Ali saw an opportunity to share their travel experiences with other families and children through charming stories that make far-off places accessible.
For more information, check out charliewags.com
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ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR
Sanna Sjöström, also known as Sannadorable, is based in Sweden and creates stunning digital watercolor illustrations.
Sanna has loved art her whole life and has plenty of experience painting with watercolor. When she had children, she didn’t have the time or energy to pull out all the necessary supplies to paint. She found that her iPad was accessible in just seconds; so, she started mimicking watercolor digitally.
She now illustrates for children’s books, but also creates posters, cards, and digital illustration tools. Her biggest inspiration comes from flowers and nature. Sanna’s mission is to brighten your day and make you smile through her art.
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