Pet Tales by Heidi Tattrie Rushton

An empowering read for young readers while also greatly appealing to an audience of all ages. Pet Tales is the story of eleven-year-old Penny, of a dog named Sally, and of identifying and living with anxiety and the ways to manage it, all wrapped in a tale of love for animals, friendship and growth. Through love, kindness, and honesty, the tale unfolds layers of important topics in a meaningful and heartfelt way that made it enjoyable to read.

Introverted Penny prefers to talk to animals, write their stories and be alone but finds courage in
speaking her truth, even if quietly and to only a few people. Her story celebrates the value of friendship, of finding your voice through causes that mean a lot to you, and the importance of realizing you are never as alone as you think. Through a mix of characters, both mean and delightful. The goals and dreams of this young girl are clear — save the animals — while the steps to get there are daunting only if she doesn’t ask for help.

In many ways, this was a teaser as we meet several characters who clearly have their own story to tell, like money-hungry Ms. Storm, and the artistic cat, of Rose, the manager of the pet store herself as she finds her own voice and quits her job without an immediate back-up plan. This all to say, Tattrie Rushton creates such beautiful characters who make the reader want to dig deeper while giving the reader tools to do so.

Along with the tools of inquiry and perception, this book includes tools to enable young readers to find their voice, seek solutions and support causes at a very young age. The empowerment aspect lies within the story as well as the additional tools to make a difference, ideal for any age and any personality. This story for middle grade readers is the start of a greater movement to understand, volunteer and make a difference, or simply read a wonderful tale many can relate to and love. We all have the ability and strength to change the world and find a solution to a problem we see, Pet Tales is a tool to inspire all of us to see that power within ourselves.

Heidi Tattrie Rushton has been a veterinary assistant, an international university recruiter, and a preschool teacher, but writing has always been her passion. She calls Fall River, Nova Scotia, home now, along with her husband, two children, and a furry Havanese sidekick. In 2021, Pet Tales fetched the Joyce Barkhouse Writing for Children Prize with the Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia. Visit her at HeidiTattrieRushton.com.

Publisher: Nevermore Press, Trap Door Books (April 16, 2024)
Paperback 5″ x 8″ | 128 pages
ISBN: 9781777554996

Sarah Butland

Website

I am a struggling artist, a challenging and challenged mother who always thinks she is failing, an emerging freelance writer and reporter, an author with my name on several books crossing genres and always hoping to find more readers who enjoy them.

I am also a successful artist, a wonderful and thriving mother of one, a reacher towards both people and dreams despite all of the turned backs and obstacles in my way. I am a thriving freelance writer and reporter, an author loved by enough readers to make it worthwhile and a discombobulated conundrum who loves to hear new music, tell new tales and meet new authors. And I’m doing something I always dreamed of doing – reviewing books to support others as well as myself and my family.