The Adventures of Brownie (The Indie Dog)

MY THOUGHTS

I live in a society where tolerance towards stray animals is a hot topic. Some people never want to see stray animals near their home. And then there are those people who care for and feed these animals. Children are often taught to be scared of stray animals and with fear comes intolerance. But as we all know, stray animals need love, food, and a place to stay too. How can we raise a generation that is tolerant towards all living beings?

This book helps with that question.

The Adventures of Brownie, the Indie Dog spotlights a day in the life of an adorable streetie – Brownie. He details his day and how he thinks he is helping the society he lives in. How would society function if he didn’t “water the plants” or let people pet him so they could complete their work efficiently? But, of course, the neighbourhood squirrel seems to think otherwise! This exasperated, playful banter between Brownie and the squirrel makes it so much fun for kids to read!

Seeing a street dog as the protagonist of a book normalises the presence of dogs in the neighbourhood. Children will begin to associate streeties with play and mischief, and this is the beginning of tolerance and acceptance. Even the name of the dog is so common, every child will find a Brownie where they live. I loved this book for what it represents and simply for how fun it is! Have your fun with it — use different voices during a read-aloud and make up your situations!