Alison Haberfield

I am a writer and illustrator and live with my husband and 5 dogs in a small cottage in the countryside. We have re-homed dogs for over 25 years, all adopted from various charities, usually taking on the older ones that get overlooked. One of those, Sparky, was the inspiration for my book. I wanted to tell this story because I think it is relevant to everyday life, especially for children growing up with all the pressures that life can bring to conform and fit in. It is a book which can be shared and read aloud, perhaps using different voices for each creature! I have also chosen to use the Comic Sans typeface to make it accessible for more children, as this font is recommended for people with dyslexia.

Author news

Sparky and Friends is a fun and light-hearted book and has colourful pictures which children can engage with. It is a book which can be shared and read aloud, perhaps using different voices for each creature! I have also chosen to use the Comic Sans typeface to make it accessible for more children, as this font is recommended for people with dyslexia. I have kept the feel of the story light and airy and full of fun with incidents such as the spider waiting for his dinner and going cross-eyed looking at the butterfly. The story of Sparky's journey through the garden reflects our own journey through life and all the different types of people we meet with different backgrounds, different ideas and ways of life. Even though they are all different he enjoys meeting them and they become his friends. It is a good introduction to nature and the creatures you can find in your own garden or local park. The conclusion of the story takes Sparky back home where he realises that all his friends are so different from each other but that it doesn't matter because they are his friends. I am also in the process of designing and producing a range of cards which will be available for sale in the near future. The designs will be available to view on my website, which is currently under construction! In the meantime, if you would like more information about my book or cards, please contact me [email protected]
Alison Haberfield