Old Fellow

Old Fellow, written by Christopher Cheng and illustrated by Liz Anelli, is a warm, simple and engaging story of an old man and his old dog. Which one of the two is the titular ‘Old Fellow’ is never entirely clear. In fact, as the story-a meandering trip to the park-unfolds, the dog could just as easily be speaking Cheng’s carefully written text as could his owner. Each of Anelli’s playful illustrations handles perspective in a way that positions our two old fellows among the busy life of a city park. Classic picture books like Jenny Wagner’s John Brown, Rose and the Midnight Cat have proven that delightful stories about elderly people and their pets can stand the test of time and endear themselves to the hearts of readers of all ages. And Old Fellow is no different-it is a story that simply glows with warmth. The affection the two main characters have for each other radiates off the page. Gentle, heartwarming and full of the joy that comes with an old friendship, this book is for dog lovers and those who love their grandparents. Readers aged three through eight will likely find something to recognise in the charming Old Fellow. Michael Earp has 20 years of children’s specialist bookselling experience and manages The Little Bookroom.

Christopher Cheng

Within the old (and new) walls of an inner-city Sydney terrace dwells Christopher Cheng. He is the author of many children’s books including his previous Nature storybook title Python (illustrated by Mark Jackson) which was shortlisted for the Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year awards. Passionate about animals, particularly those native to Australia, it’s fitting that he established the Zoomobile and taught at Taronga Zoo in Sydney for many years, celebrating his background in education. He has always loved to write (he mostly always carries his notebook and pens) but he never thought he would be a full-time children’s author.

Liz Anelli

Illustrator Liz Anelli previously lived and worked in England but now resides in Newcastle, NSW. She has a huge passion for drawing and keeps rows of sketchbooks in her studio. In 2017, her book Desert Lake: The Story of Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre (written by Pamela Freeman) was a CBCA Notable Book and was short-listed for the NSW Premier’s Literary Award, NSW Premier’s History Awards, the Environment Award for Children’s Literature and the Educational Publishing Awards. Her other picture books with Walker Books include Ten Pound Pom (written by Carole Wilkinson) - shortlisted for CBCA Picture Book of The Year and winner of the Educational Publishing Awards in 2018 - Maddie’s First Day (written by Penny Matthews) as well as Dry to Dry (written by Pamela Freeman) and The Biscuit Maker (written by Sue Lawson), both of which were CBCA Notables.

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