"Everyone deserves their happy ever after is the celebratory message of this re-working of a long-forgotten LGBTQ+ fairytale."
Radiant with inclusivity and adventure, Pete Jordi Wood’s Disneyesque The Dog and the Sailor picture book reworks an old European fairytale to tell a story of gay romance, selflessness and finding your happy ever after with your one true love. In this case, a young sailor who finally gets to marry his prince.
Set against the backdrop of a witch-queen’s curse, the story begins with young Ruan dreaming of a life at sea, and so he leaves his Cornish village and mum, only for his ship to hit a reef and sink. After clinging to the wreckage, Ruan drifts to a foreign land and befriends a talking dog who presents him with a bag of golden coins, no less!
But this is only the beginning of a dramatic quest that sees Ruan fall into ruination before rising high when he overcomes his weaknesses — and comes good on his responsibility to care for his poor mother — to marry his handsome prince.
Packed with positive messages, page-turning peril and Disneyesque illustrations, The Dog and the Sailor is an inclusive joy.
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Discover the timeless, long-forgotten fairytale of a handsome prince and a poor sailor who set sail across the high seas on the adventure of a lifetime.
Lost for centuries, The Dog and The Sailor has been brought back to life with vibrant illustrations. A reminder that LGBTQ+ heroes have always existed in stories, this magical folk tale is the perfect gift for 4 year olds and above - as well as adults who longed for more inclusive fairytales when they were children.
When Ruan leaves behind his life as a tailor's apprentice and becomes a cabin boy aboard a ship he soon learns that the ocean is a dangerous place… facing storms, monsters, and the darkest of magic.
In his quest to help a talking dog and defeat an evil princess, can Ruan stay afloat?
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed The Dog and the Sailor and determined it is suitable for children aged 3-6 years old
The Dog and the Sailor features in the following genres: Fantasy / Magical, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Featured Books for 5+ readers, Recommendations, PSHE: Sexuality, Gender and Relationships, Personal Social Health Economic (PSHE), Traditional Tales, Featured Books for 3+ readers
The Dog and the Sailor is available in Paperback, Hardback
The Dog and the Sailor was written by Pete Jordi Wood and published by Puffin an imprint of Penguin Random House Children's UK
The Dog and the Sailor has 48 pages
£8.09
