Paws for Peace: Why Animal Characters Make Children’s Stories Magical


A colourful vertical cartoon office poster showing an orange tabby cat in a purple office chair shaking paws with a smiling brown dog. The cat wears a gold “Boss” tag and the dog wears a turquoise collar. A speech bubble reads, “Paws for peace… but I still rule the office!” The office includes a “Queen of the Office” mug, a “The Boss” sign and humorous cat-and-dog workplace posters.


Sometimes a little creativity is the best way to brighten an ordinary day.

I had great fun creating this playful cat-and-dog office poster. The confident orange cat may be offering a paw of peace, but she still seems very certain that she is the one who rules the office! The cheerful dog, the “Queen of the Office” mug and the office signs all add a little humour, personality and, of course, plenty of catitude.

Animal characters have a wonderful way of making us smile. They can be funny, brave, loyal, mischievous and wis. For children especially, animals can make a story feel comforting and magical, while still helping them explore big feelings such as friendship, courage, loneliness, belonging and family.

That love of animal-centred storytelling is also one of the reasons I created my children’s book series, Sandy and Wizard Wolf.

Sandy and Wizard Wolf follows Sandy on gentle magical adventures with a very special wolf. Wizard Wolf was once a wizard boy, but a witch’s spell transformed him into a wolf. His magic is not completely gone: under moonlight, he can become a real wolf. Together, Sandy and Wizard Wolf face mysteries, magic and meaningful adventures filled with bravery, friendship and hope.

Although this funny office cat and dog are not characters from the Sandy and Wizard Wolf books, creating them reminded me how expressive and memorable animal characters can be. A single look, a wagging tail or a raised paw can tell a whole story.

If your child enjoys cosy magical adventures, animal companions and stories with heart, explore the Sandy and Wizard Wolf books. They are written for young readers who enjoy imagination, gentle magic and the kind of friendship that helps us feel a little braver.

Thank you for stopping by and remember: sometimes peace is possible, but the cat may still be the boss!

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Discover the Sandy and Wizard Wolf children’s book series here:

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