Personalised story for a child scared of dogs: your child and the Little Puppy

What happens in your child and the Little Puppy

1. Your child spots a puppy bouncing by the garden gate.
2. The puppy’s quick movements make your child jump back.
3. A grown-up suggests watching from a comfortable distance.
4. Your child notices the puppy’s soft ears, wagging tail and sleepy yawn.
5. Your child decides how to say hello, in their own way.

How the first page could read

On a bright morning, your child heard a tap-tap-tap by the garden gate. There was a little puppy, with floppy ears and a tail that wagged like a fast feather duster. The puppy bounced once. Your child’s feet stayed very still. “Hello,” said the puppy’s grown-up. “We can take this slowly.”

Your child’s name, look and little details replace these words, and the whole story is written for their age.

Why this story works

This gentle hometown story gives your child room to notice a puppy without being rushed towards a cuddle or a game. The puppy is lively but not villainous: it bounces, sniffs and later settles for a yawn, helping young children see its behaviour in small, familiar moments. Your child is allowed to step back, watch, ask questions and choose what happens next. The ending does not require a big change; saying hello from a chosen distance is just as much part of the story as a nearer greeting. It is well suited to ages 2–6, with simple actions and reassuring repetition.

Reading it together

• Pause when the puppy first bounces and ask your child where they would like to stand.
• Use the story’s choices to name what your child notices, such as fast paws, a wagging tail or a quiet yawn.
• Read it before a planned visit with a familiar dog, while making clear that your child can keep their distance.

Suggested art style: Storybook watercolour

Soft watercolour scenes keep the puppy’s energy warm and approachable while leaving plenty of space around your child. A sidekick idea: a patient puppy owner with a pocket of small treats. You can pick any of the four styles and change the details in the form.