A new children’s picture book about a greyhound called Dotty highlights the roles of different animals on a busy, working farm.
Dotty and the Lonely Farm tells the story of a spirited adopted greyhound called Dotty who lives on a farm.
But when her best friend Chloe goes to school, Dotty feels alone.
Dotty sets off on a journey around the farm and discovers everyone has a very important job.
Can Dotty find a job of her own?
Written by Kylie Miller and illustrated by Karen Erasmus, it’s the third in a series of greyhound picture books Kylie wrote to encourage greyhound adoption.
“The greyhound adoption industry is facing a crisis with thousands of greyhounds bred for racing each year – nearly 5000 in Victoria alone. Many of those either fail as racers or retire and are desperately seeking safe and loving homes,” Kylie said.
This story is inspired by Kylie’s pet greyhound, Dotty, who loves to run around her East Gippsland farm.
“Dotty and her brothers, Teddy and Bluey, bring us so much joy, as do all of the greyhounds who’ve joined our family over the years,” Kylie said.
“I hope my books encourage people to
consider greyhounds as pets and to adopt rather than shop for their dogs.”
Dotty and the Lonely Farm explores themes of family, friendship, purpose, and belonging while introducing readers to the hens, sheep and cattle who live and work on the farm.
An award-winning journalist and communications consultant, Kylie traded city life for a tree change in East Gippsland 14 years ago.
Her first children’s picture book, Heroes of Black Summer, co-written by Craig Sheather and illustrated by Karen Erasmus, was published by Australian Geographic in 2021.
The first two books in the greyhound series, Albert, The Greyhound Who Loves to Run, and Teddy, The Most Beautiful Boy in the World, have sold to sighthound lovers around the world. The series is published by Laneway Press.
Dotty and the Lonely Farm will be available from September 1, 2024 at good bookshops or major online retailers and available for pre-order now.
