What do you think?
Rate this book
Harley Hound
This rhyming kid's book is about a dog who learns to accept being herself. It's aim is to help children feel more comfortable in their own skin and love who they are.
Harley is a basset hound. And being a basset hound brings certain challenges!
Then one day, something incredible happens! With the help of a strange, moustache wearing man on the talking box machine, Harley is able to be the dog she’d always dreamt of being. She could do all the things she saw other dogs do – carry huge sticks, catch balls in mid-air … she was top-dog.
However, being someone she’s not, wasn’t all she’d imagined it would be. Because others liked her just the way she was…
This magical picture book about dogs is written in perfect rhyme and beautifully illustrated, will help young children feel comfortable being themselves. Any child that loves dogs and animals will look forward to reading it, again and again.
The story is based on the author’s real life basset hound – who of course is called Harley! Even Lucy the chihuahua, who terrorises Harley on a daily basis, is a real-life character in their local park.
Harley is a basset hound. And being a basset hound brings certain challenges!
Then one day, something incredible happens! With the help of a strange, moustache wearing man on the talking box machine, Harley is able to be the dog she’d always dreamt of being. She could do all the things she saw other dogs do – carry huge sticks, catch balls in mid-air … she was top-dog.
However, being someone she’s not, wasn’t all she’d imagined it would be. Because others liked her just the way she was…
This magical picture book about dogs is written in perfect rhyme and beautifully illustrated, will help young children feel comfortable being themselves. Any child that loves dogs and animals will look forward to reading it, again and again.
The story is based on the author’s real life basset hound – who of course is called Harley! Even Lucy the chihuahua, who terrorises Harley on a daily basis, is a real-life character in their local park.
33 pages, Paperback
Published May 25, 2021
About the author
Chris Jones
1,001 books17 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 1, 2021
This is a sweet, rhyming story based on the writer’s own doggie called Harley! I love this personal touch and think it makes it more relevant to young readers, aided even further by the photos on the back cover. However, there were some aspects that did not quite sit with me properly as a child’s book.
With lovely illustrations, children quickly get to know that Harley the basset hound is not feeling very happy. Frustrated by being treated differently, Harley undergoes hypnosis which she believes changes her for the better. Yet, this is not the case, teaching children that it is ok to be different, as long as you are being true to yourself.
This is such an important message and I think the writer conveys this successfully. However, one of the things that Harley wants to do is win in a canine fight and is happy to be ‘top-dog’. This made me quite uncomfortable because I thought it was sending the wrong message to children. Rather than exploring differences, it was as if the character is keen to jump in straight away into the fray. I don’t think this aspect of the story was suited to the innocence of this animal picture book.
The language in this book is mostly straight-forward. The font is clear so younger, emerging readers can attempt to read it aloud as well. One word that I disagreed with was the use of ‘thick’ and I think a thesaurus should have been used here to avoid such a negative, derogative term (we naturally avoid this word in our household). True, it would have broken such an effective rhyming pattern, but I actually changed the word when reading it aloud to my own children.
With lovely eye-catching illustrations, this book follows Harley as she tries to fit in. At the end, she realises it is more important to be true to herself. It is a nice story but I think there are some elements that don’t suit the young and influential readership. The rhyming makes this story flow really well and adds a sing-song quality to it, increasing the appeal of this story.
With lovely illustrations, children quickly get to know that Harley the basset hound is not feeling very happy. Frustrated by being treated differently, Harley undergoes hypnosis which she believes changes her for the better. Yet, this is not the case, teaching children that it is ok to be different, as long as you are being true to yourself.
This is such an important message and I think the writer conveys this successfully. However, one of the things that Harley wants to do is win in a canine fight and is happy to be ‘top-dog’. This made me quite uncomfortable because I thought it was sending the wrong message to children. Rather than exploring differences, it was as if the character is keen to jump in straight away into the fray. I don’t think this aspect of the story was suited to the innocence of this animal picture book.
The language in this book is mostly straight-forward. The font is clear so younger, emerging readers can attempt to read it aloud as well. One word that I disagreed with was the use of ‘thick’ and I think a thesaurus should have been used here to avoid such a negative, derogative term (we naturally avoid this word in our household). True, it would have broken such an effective rhyming pattern, but I actually changed the word when reading it aloud to my own children.
With lovely eye-catching illustrations, this book follows Harley as she tries to fit in. At the end, she realises it is more important to be true to herself. It is a nice story but I think there are some elements that don’t suit the young and influential readership. The rhyming makes this story flow really well and adds a sing-song quality to it, increasing the appeal of this story.
July 1, 2021
Harley Hound by Chris Jones
Illustrated by Becca Wain
All the little dog lovers out there will love this funny rhyming story about a little basset hound!
Harley is finding life a bit tricky. She watches the other dogs and wants to be more like them. She finds it hard to swim in lakes, catch balls and she is easily scared by the other dogs, even if they are smaller than her.
Then one day her wish comes true: she becomes hypnotised and suddenly becomes braver and more like the other dogs. She starts to fetch giant sticks, swim through bogs and get into dog fights.
Harley finds that her wish to be like the others is not making her happy though. Children don't want to stroke her anymore and her best doggy friend cowers when she comes near.
Harley learns an important lesson: it is much better to be herself. Although she is not the fastest runner or the best swimmer her family and friends love her just the way she is.
This is such a heart warming story, teaching children the importance of being themselves instead of trying to copy others.
I love the fact it is based on a real life basset hound called Harley! The illustrations are lovely and really capture how the little dog is feeling throughout the story. The picture of her being hypnotised really made us all laugh.
My children loved this book and have asked for it repeatedly at bedtime this week. It is so important for children to accept who they are, be kind to others and accept that everyone is different and this book helps young children to reflect on this. This would be another great picture book to use in school to reinforce these important messages.
Illustrated by Becca Wain
All the little dog lovers out there will love this funny rhyming story about a little basset hound!
Harley is finding life a bit tricky. She watches the other dogs and wants to be more like them. She finds it hard to swim in lakes, catch balls and she is easily scared by the other dogs, even if they are smaller than her.
Then one day her wish comes true: she becomes hypnotised and suddenly becomes braver and more like the other dogs. She starts to fetch giant sticks, swim through bogs and get into dog fights.
Harley finds that her wish to be like the others is not making her happy though. Children don't want to stroke her anymore and her best doggy friend cowers when she comes near.
Harley learns an important lesson: it is much better to be herself. Although she is not the fastest runner or the best swimmer her family and friends love her just the way she is.
This is such a heart warming story, teaching children the importance of being themselves instead of trying to copy others.
I love the fact it is based on a real life basset hound called Harley! The illustrations are lovely and really capture how the little dog is feeling throughout the story. The picture of her being hypnotised really made us all laugh.
My children loved this book and have asked for it repeatedly at bedtime this week. It is so important for children to accept who they are, be kind to others and accept that everyone is different and this book helps young children to reflect on this. This would be another great picture book to use in school to reinforce these important messages.
July 29, 2021
Red Spotted Ned & Harley Hound-Love these! Both brightly coloured large books (a4 sized) of just under 35 pages each. Every page has excellent pictures easy to see and understand for the younger child. Both in a larger font again for ease of reading for children, these are perfect for either children to read themselves or be read to and follow by the pictures. Written in rhyme they are very entertaining. Encouraging confidence, positivity and respect, these are perfect books for the age range (5-7 years) and fun for even the adults.
Harley Hound: Harley begins as a little nervous and getting in trouble finding life is rather hard at times to get things right. She watches TV one day and becomes hypnotised and finds her confidence but when seeing her reflection finds she is the very same dog that she was before. A heart -warming story of learning to be yourself and not who others think you ought to be.The real Harley hound is shown on the back cover (I hope he got biscuit credit for this!). I loved the graffiti picture- “Rude dog”!
Wonderful books that can be read time and again with a message for all to see- #bekind and be true to yourself. I only wish such things had been around when I was small.
Harley Hound: Harley begins as a little nervous and getting in trouble finding life is rather hard at times to get things right. She watches TV one day and becomes hypnotised and finds her confidence but when seeing her reflection finds she is the very same dog that she was before. A heart -warming story of learning to be yourself and not who others think you ought to be.The real Harley hound is shown on the back cover (I hope he got biscuit credit for this!). I loved the graffiti picture- “Rude dog”!
Wonderful books that can be read time and again with a message for all to see- #bekind and be true to yourself. I only wish such things had been around when I was small.
June 3, 2021
Very cute book
I love a book about a basset hound. Very cute with a good message. The illustrations were also good .
I love a book about a basset hound. Very cute with a good message. The illustrations were also good .
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews