Hannah Dawn Gold – illustratör

Conversations with My Dog by Hannah Gold is a tale for those who love to seek new adventures and the promise of following their dreams, or nose, into the unknown.In a fast-paced world, driven by material achievement and the fear of loss; clarity can seem hard to find. Sometimes answers can come from the most surprising sources. When the author found herself confronted with challenges, she discovered, to her surprise, that wisdom came not from a philosophical master or spiritual guide, but her puppy named Monty. On the road with him, she learns to stop and ask him questions. He answers her through demonstrating the values of simplicity, fun and love of exploration.This description of the conversations that developed between them is a tale about rediscovering direction in life. It gives a light-hearted, gently thought-provoking account of the bigger journey of working out how to live.The search for the way ahead is the metaphor that illustrates the eternal bond of loyalty between a dog and its humanand makes this tale transcend normal conversation.‘Even when we are in small bodies, we have big spirits.’ Writes Hannah Gold, relaying the replies of her wise four-legged friend, to her questions about life.‘The very young always know why they are here. Because they haven’t forgotten. Sometimes life muddles things up with too many thoughts. But the heart is ageless.’Hannah’s illustrations were created from sketches she made of Monty on their travels. These drawings provide a visual tapestry, depicting their journey together to inspire readers in finding their own path. Conversations with My Dog is an ideal companion for people considering significant change or embarking on a new direction, however uncertain, or even just searching for a little extra companionship and inspiration.

The Owl and the Cactus by Hannah Dawn Gold is an illustrated tale of exploration and friendship for children who are setting out on their own adventures in life. This light-hearted story follows the adventures of a very small owl, as he takes his first tentative flight in his desert home, encounters challenges and eventually finds his way home. In a big world, sometimes things can go wrong for even the bravest explorer. When Owl finds himself in need of help, he discovers that everyone is important, including people who are quiet, shy and could be easy to pass by, because ‘Even the smallest people can know important things!’Sometimes when we’re whizzing around in excitement, chasing the next achievement, we can overlook what’s around us. In a busy world, even young children can sometimes feel pressure. The Owl and the Cactus gently guides readers to understand that it is good to try new things, getting caught up in the thrill of success and it is also fine to stop, take a breath when we need to and ask for help. The wish to explore and grow is encouraged and supported in this book, balanced with the lesson that sometimes growing up can be challenging and the world can be a scary place when things aren’t going our way, but when we are willing to listen, even to those who seem different to us then friendship can be found at any moment, even when we think we are alone.The young owl’s first flight introduces the natural world to children as a home to be appreciated, not just rushed past. As the youngster finds his confidence, he discovers that nature can show us valuable things. Hannah writes, ‘I will tell you a secret about all living things, it may help you to know, when finding your wings!The wind, the moon, the stars and stones, all are telling the story of our wild desert home.All of them have something to say, if you ask them and listen, they will show you the way.’While Owl finds out about looking at the sky, his discoveries open the idea that the stars can show us where we are going. Something children can use to begin a learning journey of their own if they wish, or just smile at the safe return of the owl to his home. As a visually pleasing story about a lovable character, The Owl and the Cactus will have broad appeal to children of differing reading capabilities. Children starting on their reading journeys are sure to find the imagery and fun factor pleasing and can use this book to develop their reading skills. More capable readers can enjoy the layers of meaning that provide on-going learning opportunities. The writing style offers both ease of reading, with rhymes and short sentences, together with some more challenging words and concepts to keep minds occupied and hold interest into the future. This is a book that you can enjoy with your little ones, which will help them grow, while chuckling together about the antics of the very small owl. It will be a favourite on the bookshelf for years to come! Hannah’s illustrations provide a rich visual backdrop depicting the young explorer and the range of creatures he encounters on his travels. The Owl and the Cactus is an ideal story to inspire the confidence of young readers in making friends and finding their own wings. With varied additional activities to stimulate interest, there is plenty here to occupy young minds. The full colour pictures and fun, rhyming style make this book suitable for a wide range of children with different reading levels as it provides both visual and auditory enjoyment, different types of learning opportunities and a positive approach to overcoming difficulties.After all, ‘You’re never too small to know how to fly!’

AGE RANGE 2 - 5The Fuzzy Faced Flim Flum by Hannah Dawn Gold is a humorous story of companionship for youngsters. When something goes missing, a search is soon underway, with the help of a puppy, a cat and a wise little mouse. The mouse knows the missing thing couldn’t have been moved by any of them, so it must have been hidden by a strange creature called a fuzzy faced flim flum, which lives in our homes, getting up to mischief and causing chaos when our backs are turned. This light-hearted tale, written in an easy, rhyming style, encourages readers to have confidence when things aren’t going their way. It is a book which may be helpful for readers who are finding it difficult to cope with change or disruption to routine, because “Sometimes life is confusing, sometimes words don’t rhyme. But there’s no sense in a world that makes sense all the time.”As the characters help each other hunt for the missing item, their adventure takes readers on a journey where they learn that sometimes we lose things that matter, but also that “when life sends us searching, for the things we don’t know, the questions we ask are what make us grow.” Hannah’s full colour illustrations add rich layers of visual fun and detail, to this amusing account of the mess and chaos of daily life. This is a book which will be sure to entertain children and adults alike.