Mitch loves staying with his Gran, but wishes his parents didn’t have to go away so much with their film careers. Gran is loving, kind and the
best cook, but Mitch feels a little lost without his parent’s advice as he begins a new school in Melbourne.
His sister Regi is Mitch’s opposite. While he is short for his age, anxious and shy, she is tall, outgoing and happy to make new friends in their new city. She and Gran try to allay Mitch’s fears, but he’d prefer Mum and Dad’s support.
His first day of school in the last term of school for the year, is good and bad. His teacher is great, and most kids smile, but one boy in his class seems to take a disliking to Mitch as soon as he arrives. Seb, Mitch learns, is the local mayor’s son, and he likes to remind people of it daily.
Mitch soon dreads every day of school, his only solace being a large, gnarly, climbable tree in the park not far from his Gran’s home. He has always liked this tree on his visits, and now he swears it is humming to him. When he hears…
“Huoooarrboi, huoooarrrboi, huoooarrrboi,”
he’s not sure at first what it means. When he finally understands, he discovers a dog like no other at the base of the tree. It’s big, black and no breed he has ever seen before. It has come to help.
Being so big, this talking dog named Argos makes an impression on anyone who sees him. Unfortunately, these are usually negative, with him quicky being labelled dangerous. After finally getting his lifelong wish of a dog of his own, it’s not only Mitch’s parents up against the idea. Then Seb latches on to the idea of taking Argos away from Mitch forever.
This magical dog that came to help him, suddenly needs his help. Does he have it in him to step up for his new friend?
Dog lovers will love this story of a bond between an anxious, shy boy and a mystical dog sent to help him. There are themes of bullying, Fake News, and standing up for yourself and others.
The chapter headings within The Boy and the Dog Tree guide readers through the story, adding tension as the stakes get higher for Mitch and his new friend.
Argos is a strong character, insisting Mitch is his boy, not the other way around. This uncertainty also adds pressure as Mitch wonders what free spirit Argos will do next.
The Boy and the Dog Tree will delight animal lovers and anyone who feels a little shy meeting new people, or maybe even dealing with their own bully.
Author – Fiona Wood
Age – 8+
Find more Dog Tales here
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Publisher – University of Queensland Press
Set in – Current Day
Orphan – No
Violence – Bullying
Real Life – Yes
Fantasy – Yes
Blend – Animals / Fantasy / Coming of Age
(2026, University of Queensland Press, Dogs, Animals, Tree, Magical, Mystical, Bully, Bullies, Standing up for yourself, Confidence, Anxiety, Grandmother, New School, Making Friends, Award winning author, Melbourne, Australia, Family, Friendship, Magic, Fantasy)