When an idea becomes a book
An idea for a children’s story found the impetus to become a book when author Kaye Arnott found out she was going to be a grandmother.
The Dog and the Mog is the first in a series of books that has been selfpublished by the first-time Palmerston North author and is designed to be an easy, read-out-loud book.
‘‘I wrote it all in verse, which I like doing. It’s captures young ones’ attention and it’s important for kids’ development.’’
Arnott has four grandchildren now and seven more Dog and the Mog stories ready to go. She said she was encouraged to take the next step to having the first story published when she was approached by Laura Wenden Green.
‘‘I do a story time session at Boho’s Cafe once a month and Laura was coming to that.
‘‘We had worked together in a previous life and so she said to me that she would like to have a go at illustrating the book.’’
Wenden Green said as a mum of three girls she knew the importance of illustrations for a young reader.
‘‘My girls do a lot of quiet reading on their own and they are too little to read, but they read through the pictures one page at a time, so simple illustrations really help.’’
The Dog and the Mog tells the story of Davey the dog and how he gets up to mischief because he is bored when his owner and best friend Bruce is away at school. Then Mavis the Mog suddenly becomes part of the family and Davey has to come to terms with this cat who has quite an attitude.
Arnott said she based the cat character on her son’s family cat and when illustrating Davey, Wenden Green said she couldn’t help by being inspired by her own ‘‘quite cheeky’’ little terrier Jack.
The Dog and the Mog is available at Palmerston North’s Bruce Mckenzie Booksellers and Paper Plus.