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Only One Woof (Piccolo Books) by Herriot, James
Gyp, a cheerful but always silent sheep dog, startles everyone with uncharacteristic behavior during the championship sheep dog trials.
32 pages, Paperback
First published September 23, 1985
8 people are currently reading
790 people want to read
About the author
James Herriot
269 books3,404 followersJames Herriot is the pen name of James Alfred Wight, OBE, FRCVS also known as Alf Wight, an English veterinary surgeon and writer. Wight is best known for his semi-autobiographical stories, often referred to collectively as All Creatures Great and Small, a title used in some editions and in film and television adaptations.
In 1939, at the age of 23, he qualified as a veterinary surgeon with Glasgow Veterinary College. In January 1940, he took a brief job at a veterinary practice in Sunderland, but moved in July to work in a rural practice based in the town of Thirsk, Yorkshire, close to the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors, where he was to remain for the rest of his life. The original practice is now a museum, "The World of James Herriot".
Wight intended for years to write a book, but with most of his time consumed by veterinary practice and family, his writing ambition went nowhere. Challenged by his wife, in 1966 (at the age of 50), he began writing. In 1969 Wight wrote If Only They Could Talk, the first of the now-famous series based on his life working as a vet and his training in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Owing in part to professional etiquette which at that time frowned on veterinary surgeons and other professionals from advertising their services, he took a pen name, choosing "James Herriot". If Only They Could Talk was published in the United Kingdom in 1970 by Michael Joseph Ltd, but sales were slow until Thomas McCormack, of St. Martin's Press in New York City, received a copy and arranged to have the first two books published as a single volume in the United States. The resulting book, titled All Creatures Great and Small, was an overnight success, spawning numerous sequels, movies, and a successful television adaptation.
In his books, Wight calls the town where he lives and works Darrowby, which he based largely on the towns of Thirsk and Sowerby. He also renamed Donald Sinclair and his brother Brian Sinclair as Siegfried and Tristan Farnon, respectively. Wight's books are only partially autobiographical. Many of the stories are only loosely based on real events or people, and thus can be considered primarily fiction.
The Herriot books are often described as "animal stories" (Wight himself was known to refer to them as his "little cat-and-dog stories"), and given that they are about the life of a country veterinarian, animals certainly play a significant role in most of the stories. Yet animals play a lesser, sometimes even a negligible role in many of Wight's tales: the overall theme of his stories is Yorkshire country life, with its people and their animals primary elements that provide its distinct character. Further, it is Wight's shrewd observations of persons, animals, and their close inter-relationship, which give his writing much of its savour. Wight was just as interested in their owners as he was in his patients, and his writing is, at root, an amiable but keen comment on the human condition. The Yorkshire animals provide the element of pain and drama; the role of their owners is to feel and express joy, sadness, sometimes triumph. The animal characters also prevent Wight's stories from becoming twee or melodramatic — animals, unlike some humans, do not pretend to be ailing, nor have they imaginary complaints and needless fears. Their ill-health is real, not the result of flaws in their character which they avoid mending. In an age of social uncertainties, when there seem to be no remedies for anything, Wight's stories of resolute grappling with mysterious bacterial foes or severe injuries have an almost heroic quality, giving the reader a sense of assurance, even hope. Best of all, James Herriot has an abundant humour about himself and his difficulties. He never feels superior to any living thing, and is ever eager to learn — about animal doctoring, and about his fellow human creature.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/jamesh...
In 1939, at the age of 23, he qualified as a veterinary surgeon with Glasgow Veterinary College. In January 1940, he took a brief job at a veterinary practice in Sunderland, but moved in July to work in a rural practice based in the town of Thirsk, Yorkshire, close to the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors, where he was to remain for the rest of his life. The original practice is now a museum, "The World of James Herriot".
Wight intended for years to write a book, but with most of his time consumed by veterinary practice and family, his writing ambition went nowhere. Challenged by his wife, in 1966 (at the age of 50), he began writing. In 1969 Wight wrote If Only They Could Talk, the first of the now-famous series based on his life working as a vet and his training in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Owing in part to professional etiquette which at that time frowned on veterinary surgeons and other professionals from advertising their services, he took a pen name, choosing "James Herriot". If Only They Could Talk was published in the United Kingdom in 1970 by Michael Joseph Ltd, but sales were slow until Thomas McCormack, of St. Martin's Press in New York City, received a copy and arranged to have the first two books published as a single volume in the United States. The resulting book, titled All Creatures Great and Small, was an overnight success, spawning numerous sequels, movies, and a successful television adaptation.
In his books, Wight calls the town where he lives and works Darrowby, which he based largely on the towns of Thirsk and Sowerby. He also renamed Donald Sinclair and his brother Brian Sinclair as Siegfried and Tristan Farnon, respectively. Wight's books are only partially autobiographical. Many of the stories are only loosely based on real events or people, and thus can be considered primarily fiction.
The Herriot books are often described as "animal stories" (Wight himself was known to refer to them as his "little cat-and-dog stories"), and given that they are about the life of a country veterinarian, animals certainly play a significant role in most of the stories. Yet animals play a lesser, sometimes even a negligible role in many of Wight's tales: the overall theme of his stories is Yorkshire country life, with its people and their animals primary elements that provide its distinct character. Further, it is Wight's shrewd observations of persons, animals, and their close inter-relationship, which give his writing much of its savour. Wight was just as interested in their owners as he was in his patients, and his writing is, at root, an amiable but keen comment on the human condition. The Yorkshire animals provide the element of pain and drama; the role of their owners is to feel and express joy, sadness, sometimes triumph. The animal characters also prevent Wight's stories from becoming twee or melodramatic — animals, unlike some humans, do not pretend to be ailing, nor have they imaginary complaints and needless fears. Their ill-health is real, not the result of flaws in their character which they avoid mending. In an age of social uncertainties, when there seem to be no remedies for anything, Wight's stories of resolute grappling with mysterious bacterial foes or severe injuries have an almost heroic quality, giving the reader a sense of assurance, even hope. Best of all, James Herriot has an abundant humour about himself and his difficulties. He never feels superior to any living thing, and is ever eager to learn — about animal doctoring, and about his fellow human creature.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/jamesh...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
April 29, 2024
A quiet companion turns vocal at just the right moment lending praise when it is due. Plain and pastoral, a gentle look at friendship and loyalty with clever and charismatic animals to amuse and delight.
June 19, 2017
This was always my favorite of the James Herriot stories ... and no, not because of the border collies (or border collie-like dogs)! Although I did find the dogs to be just absolutely gorgeous in the full-page illustrations we have on our copy. We actually started owning border collies after I'd read and enjoyed this book for years ... which was probably why their appearance and behavior appealed to me so much when we looked into getting one, but yeah, that's besides the point.
This is a sweet, heartwarming story that I really enjoyed ... and I just love the illustrations.
~Kellyn Roth, Reveries Reviews
This is a sweet, heartwarming story that I really enjoyed ... and I just love the illustrations.
~Kellyn Roth, Reveries Reviews
June 18, 2021
I was excited to get a (children's) book from one of James Herriot stories. I only had the scantest recollection of the story from one of his other collections of stories. I got the book, and read the story and….. It was ok. Nice illustrations, but the story only had a small pop at the end, instead of a bigger bang that I had hoped. Still fun to read with a child (if I had any grandchildren yet), but not what I had hoped from all the stories that could have been selected from James Herriot.
October 3, 2025
I just loved these quaint stories from a British country vet when I was a child! Keep an eye out for all of his illustrated stories and add them to your children's library!
Ages: 4 - 8
In honor of his birthday,I made this reel!
Content Considerations: nothing to note.
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Ages: 4 - 8
In honor of his birthday,I made this reel!
Content Considerations: nothing to note.
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide Content Considerations, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
If you’re considering a book or looking for a new title to read, check out my highly categorized shelves, read my reviews and Friend or Follow me to spiff up your feed with clean, wholesome, living books.
I have an Instagram account that’s pretty bookishly unique too!
August 23, 2016
Another wonderful old favourite. James Herriot's first introduction to me.
September 11, 2019
Pleasant enough but not the most exciting story. Nice to have story from a first person perspective.
July 15, 2023
Love his stories!!
November 30, 2025
Awww only one woof. I love dogs.
January 29, 2025
This is a sweet story about a beloved pet that is very nicely illustrated and will likely appeal to children, especially if they like dogs. My mother-in-law loves his stories amd they have a quaint charm.
March 29, 2012
Being a dog lover from a very young age, it is no surprise that my parents bought me this book when I was a child. Perhaps they thought to appease the longing for a pet that didn't live in a cage with books. As it was any book that was about dogs I devoured from Lassie to the Hundred and One Dalmatians. I recently read and passed on the book to my daughter (not that she really understands it yet being only 15 weeks!) in hopes that she will develop a similar love for reading (she already likes dogs, as we have two at home).
This short story is taken from one of James Herriot's books about the sometimes hilarious, sometimes almost scary trials and tribulations of being a country vet in Yorkshire. This particular story is about a pair of sheepdog brothers - Gyp and Sweep. As you can guess from the title, one of the dogs is peculiarly silent, that is until the day of the sheepdog trials think Babe, if you don't know what those are. (I didn't read The sheep-pig till well after the movie came out, I was into dogs not pigs!)
Anyway, if you have made it this far through my rambling you'll be wondering when I'm going to get to the point of this review. Well, here it is: This is an excellent little picture book. The tale itself is a lovely, Herriot's writing easily envisions life in the country and the illustrations just add to that. The images are well drawn and match up to the story very nicely (It drives me nuts when illustrators don't READ the book to find out what characters look like). All in all a wonderful book for your own young dog lovers.
This short story is taken from one of James Herriot's books about the sometimes hilarious, sometimes almost scary trials and tribulations of being a country vet in Yorkshire. This particular story is about a pair of sheepdog brothers - Gyp and Sweep. As you can guess from the title, one of the dogs is peculiarly silent, that is until the day of the sheepdog trials think Babe, if you don't know what those are. (I didn't read The sheep-pig till well after the movie came out, I was into dogs not pigs!)
Anyway, if you have made it this far through my rambling you'll be wondering when I'm going to get to the point of this review. Well, here it is: This is an excellent little picture book. The tale itself is a lovely, Herriot's writing easily envisions life in the country and the illustrations just add to that. The images are well drawn and match up to the story very nicely (It drives me nuts when illustrators don't READ the book to find out what characters look like). All in all a wonderful book for your own young dog lovers.
July 9, 2024
I read this a few times, first in an actual bookstore soon after it was first published. You can currently find it at The Open Library, but I do not know how much longer it will stay on the website.
By 1984, James Herriot had decided not to write any more long memoirs, despite their success. Turning some of his stories into children's books was a stroke of genius. If I remember correctly, this was the second, which came out in 1985.
Illustrator Peter Barrett is wonderful. His vivid and realistic watercolors perfectly pair with Herriot's pared-down prose. This is not an exact replication of the story that first appeared in his All Creatures Great and Small series.
Take your time looking at the illustrations. There's a lot going on in the backgrounds. The only quibble I have with them is that it's always sunny. Yorkshire isn't exactly known for being sunny.
By 1984, James Herriot had decided not to write any more long memoirs, despite their success. Turning some of his stories into children's books was a stroke of genius. If I remember correctly, this was the second, which came out in 1985.
Illustrator Peter Barrett is wonderful. His vivid and realistic watercolors perfectly pair with Herriot's pared-down prose. This is not an exact replication of the story that first appeared in his All Creatures Great and Small series.
Take your time looking at the illustrations. There's a lot going on in the backgrounds. The only quibble I have with them is that it's always sunny. Yorkshire isn't exactly known for being sunny.
April 16, 2008
This is an absolutely charming little book. It's the story of two young pups from the same litter, growing up together on a small farm. At a still relatively early age they are separated and the story follows the life of the dog who stays at home and lives on at the farm where he was born. It ends with a reunion with his brother.
For a short and heartwarming tale, pick this one up for 10 minutes of fantastic art and an uplifting storyline.
For a short and heartwarming tale, pick this one up for 10 minutes of fantastic art and an uplifting storyline.
October 17, 2012
Being a veterinarian leads to some very interesting tales to tell. This would be one of them. Only One Woof highlights how even after years, puppies can still recognise old friends. It's a heartwarming story that Gyp would emit only one bark in his entire life, and seeing Sweep was what caused it. It makes you smile and chuckle by the time your reach the last page and wonder about the strange things these animals do.
December 3, 2020
If a child is interested in being a veterinarian or learning more about vets, this is a gentle read and a nice intro to the writings of Herriot. Art that begs the eye to linger.
July 12, 2022
Only One Woof James Herriot
In Bruce Handy’s "Wild Things: The Joy of Reading Children’s Literature as an Adult," chapter 4 is about animal stories. Both my kids loved books in this category, whether instructional or fanciful. In that chapter, Handy writes, “Many classic animal stories have no more concern for justice than does a wolf or lion.”
In other words, wolf gonna wolf; lion gonna lion. Or in the animal stories by James Herriot, cat gonna cat; dog gonna dog.
I discovered Herriot’s books thanks to a Tweetspeak comment section. In November I read several of his books, but my favorite was the second one he published, "Only One Woof."
Herriot was a British veterinarian and surgeon who wrote many books about the animals he treated. He was born in County Durham, England, trained as a veterinary surgeon at Glasgow Veterinary College, and practiced in Yorkshire. He did not begin to write until he was 50. His stories are semi-autobiographical, taking place in a fictional Yorkshire town set in a time period earlier than some of the real cases he storifies. Herriot died in 1995. His tales have been made into a TV series and a movie, both titled All Creatures Great and Small.
Herriot’s animal stories portray animals as animals, not as stand-ins for humans. Only One Woof is neither preachy nor saccharine. It’s a love story of sorts about two sheepdogs who happen to be brothers, Sweep and Gyp.
Herriot’s descriptions of each dog are precise — there’s no confusing the two pups. But the biggest difference between them is that Gyp never barks. He never makes a sound.
“Those two really love each other, don’t they?” I said.
Mr. Wilkin nodded. “Aye, they are great friends. They are never apart.”
Until they are separated. The moment when Gyp does bark, when he speaks his “only one woof,” is incredibly moving.
Why does Gyp bark? The plot is pretty clear on that point. Why does he never bark again? I don’t know. I don’t think Herriot knows either.
Herriot’s prose is not anthropomorphic. He does not ascribe human thought or emotion to dogs; he simply describes their behavior. Likewise, the illustrations by Peter Barrett, who did the pictures for many of Herriot’s stories, depict realistic border collies. When Gyp and Sweep smile, it’s a doggy smile, not a cartoon smile.
Herriot’s books are not universally loved. Publisher’s Weekly called Barrett’s illustrations of humans “stiff and unexpressive.” And Kirkus Reviews wasn’t kind to either Barrett or Herriot, writing, “Unfortunately, Herriot’s prose sounds forced; there is no excitement or zip to the tale.”
I’ll grant you, it’s not zippy. But must every children’s book aspire to zippyness? Can't a story be quiet and thoughtful?
You know who else included a realistic, non-zippy dog in his story? The Greek poet Homer in The Odyssey. One of the most affecting scenes is when Odysseus returns home in disguise after being gone for twenty years, and his faithful dog, Argos, recognizes him:
And when
he realized
Odysseus was near, he wagged
his tail,
and both his ears dropped back.
He was too weak
to move towards his master.
Look how much Homer conveyed without ascribing human emotion or intent to the dog. Argos just does doggy stuff, and Odysseus “wiped / his tears away and hid them / easily.”
Animal stories help kids form empathy, whether from war hero to faithful pet or from veterinarian to patient. It gets children thinking beyond themselves and paying attention to the critters around them — how they hold their ears, what sounds they make (or don’t), what they do with their tails.
And animal stories help parents too. In Only One Woof, the entire growing up process zips by in thirty-two pages.
In Bruce Handy’s "Wild Things: The Joy of Reading Children’s Literature as an Adult," chapter 4 is about animal stories. Both my kids loved books in this category, whether instructional or fanciful. In that chapter, Handy writes, “Many classic animal stories have no more concern for justice than does a wolf or lion.”
In other words, wolf gonna wolf; lion gonna lion. Or in the animal stories by James Herriot, cat gonna cat; dog gonna dog.
I discovered Herriot’s books thanks to a Tweetspeak comment section. In November I read several of his books, but my favorite was the second one he published, "Only One Woof."
Herriot was a British veterinarian and surgeon who wrote many books about the animals he treated. He was born in County Durham, England, trained as a veterinary surgeon at Glasgow Veterinary College, and practiced in Yorkshire. He did not begin to write until he was 50. His stories are semi-autobiographical, taking place in a fictional Yorkshire town set in a time period earlier than some of the real cases he storifies. Herriot died in 1995. His tales have been made into a TV series and a movie, both titled All Creatures Great and Small.
Herriot’s animal stories portray animals as animals, not as stand-ins for humans. Only One Woof is neither preachy nor saccharine. It’s a love story of sorts about two sheepdogs who happen to be brothers, Sweep and Gyp.
Herriot’s descriptions of each dog are precise — there’s no confusing the two pups. But the biggest difference between them is that Gyp never barks. He never makes a sound.
“Those two really love each other, don’t they?” I said.
Mr. Wilkin nodded. “Aye, they are great friends. They are never apart.”
Until they are separated. The moment when Gyp does bark, when he speaks his “only one woof,” is incredibly moving.
Why does Gyp bark? The plot is pretty clear on that point. Why does he never bark again? I don’t know. I don’t think Herriot knows either.
Herriot’s prose is not anthropomorphic. He does not ascribe human thought or emotion to dogs; he simply describes their behavior. Likewise, the illustrations by Peter Barrett, who did the pictures for many of Herriot’s stories, depict realistic border collies. When Gyp and Sweep smile, it’s a doggy smile, not a cartoon smile.
Herriot’s books are not universally loved. Publisher’s Weekly called Barrett’s illustrations of humans “stiff and unexpressive.” And Kirkus Reviews wasn’t kind to either Barrett or Herriot, writing, “Unfortunately, Herriot’s prose sounds forced; there is no excitement or zip to the tale.”
I’ll grant you, it’s not zippy. But must every children’s book aspire to zippyness? Can't a story be quiet and thoughtful?
You know who else included a realistic, non-zippy dog in his story? The Greek poet Homer in The Odyssey. One of the most affecting scenes is when Odysseus returns home in disguise after being gone for twenty years, and his faithful dog, Argos, recognizes him:
And when
he realized
Odysseus was near, he wagged
his tail,
and both his ears dropped back.
He was too weak
to move towards his master.
Look how much Homer conveyed without ascribing human emotion or intent to the dog. Argos just does doggy stuff, and Odysseus “wiped / his tears away and hid them / easily.”
Animal stories help kids form empathy, whether from war hero to faithful pet or from veterinarian to patient. It gets children thinking beyond themselves and paying attention to the critters around them — how they hold their ears, what sounds they make (or don’t), what they do with their tails.
And animal stories help parents too. In Only One Woof, the entire growing up process zips by in thirty-two pages.
February 25, 2019
I love this book!!!
I am 13 in 7th grade and is till love this book. It used to be my moms. Now it's mine. I remember reading this book as a kid and getting sad because the sheep dogs were separated, but then i would get so happy because they were back together again. I recently discovered this book again going through some old stuff. I read it and actually cried this time. (Cuz im a sad boi) Very nice book, and absolutley beautiful drawings, or painting.
I am 13 in 7th grade and is till love this book. It used to be my moms. Now it's mine. I remember reading this book as a kid and getting sad because the sheep dogs were separated, but then i would get so happy because they were back together again. I recently discovered this book again going through some old stuff. I read it and actually cried this time. (Cuz im a sad boi) Very nice book, and absolutley beautiful drawings, or painting.
November 5, 2018
Gyp and Sweep are two sheepdog puppies from the same litter. Sweep is sold to Mr. Wilkins' oldest friend who is in need of a new sheepdog. Gyp who has never made a sound is left behind and lives a life of contentment on the farm with Mr. Wilkins. A year later while attending the sheepherder's trials Gyp sees Sweep, and does something that astonishes Mr.Wilkins, and everyone in attendance.
November 14, 2018
Another book I read as a child and another one I've held on to after 30 years. Another heartwarming story about an adorable puppy and I seem to recall maybe a tear or two. It's super appropriate for the kids - adults would likely look at disdain but it's a good 'goodnight' story to read to your youngers.
August 23, 2020
Anyone enjoying dogs will like this story: a silent sheepdog that even after 8 years only had one lone woof! (And that was for his very best of friends!) James Herriot write wonderful stories about his adventures as a vet - illustrations made the book even nicer!
February 10, 2022
James Herriot is a master story teller, and this is the simplest of stories ... the version I read has lovely illustrations, cute puppies, and some lovely descriptions of Scottish countryside. A fun book ...
July 26, 2023
These true stories of the life of this Scottish veterinarian are wonderful. Most children love animals stories I think, but to know these things really happened is quite fun for reader and child alike. Peter Barrett does a beautiful job illustrating the delightful Scottish countryside.
December 25, 2016
There are much better Herriot stories out there. I didn't remember this book at all and after re-reading it, I can see why.
March 17, 2018
I love this story and the other 7 that I have also encountered. I recommend this to students regularly.
September 20, 2018
2018 Reading Challenge - A bestseller from the year you graduated high school (1985)
December 31, 2019
This story from James Herriot for the young readers talks about the sheep-dog. The illustrations surely make the story more interesting.
May 22, 2020
I'm not sure how engaging a child would find this - it's a bit wordy - but this sheepdog-loving adult found it very moving. The illustrations are lovely!
October 20, 2020
The stories are simple yet engaging- classic animal stories.
December 4, 2020
4 stars & 4/10 hearts. This is such an enjoyable story! I love reading about sheepdogs, and Sweep & Gyp were so nice--I quite fell in love with them. The story itself is quite interesting!
December 5, 2020
Just a lovely heartwarming story with beautiful illustrations. I enjoyed this story as a child.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews