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BALOO, an adorable chocolate brown rescue dog, who regularly brings joy and laughter to autistic children and those with communication challenges, is to appear in a second published short story ... featuring his friend, Misha, who is in training to carry on the aging pet’s good work.
After the phenomenal success of the first book called Where’s Baloo? expat Brits Sarah Clarke, a prolific writer, researcher and management consultant, and artist Sunanda Docherty, are preparing for this week’s launch of This Way Baloo!
Sarah volunteers at the RIA Centre for Children with Special Needs in Adliya. She brings along the loveable Labradors to work as therapy dogs with the students and will be there later today. “It has been an amazing experience and I look forward to using the latest book to continue to raise awareness about autism and the benefit of a specially trained dog in helping in the learning experience of all children regardless of their ability,” she said.
“With the new story I wanted to capture Baloo’s character as he enters his twilight years and celebrate his 10th adoption anniversary or, as it is known in rescue circles, his ‘Gotcha Day’. I’m sure Baloo’s fans will be impressed again by the illustrations in This Way Baloo! too”
Where’s Baloo? captured people’s imagination and sold more than 1,000 copies to date raising BD4,000 for the cause and the second of the series comes with the support of Delmon Boarding Kennels and Cattery (DBKC) in Barbar, owned by Pauline Richards.
“Over the years Baloo has made many four-legged friends at DBKC and some of them are featured in the book,” explained Sarah. “I’m very grateful for Pauline’s support in the creation of the new book.
This Way Baloo! introduces Baloo’s best buddy Misha. Baloo wants to go the beach but strangely Misha decides to stay at home. Baloo’s fans will find out why when they read the story. Pauline’s Great Dane called Luna also makes a guest appearance.
“I hope I have been successful in capturing his loveable but ditsy character,” Sarah added. “Over the last year Baloo has meet countless people and been welcomed into many locations across the island including schools, kindergartens, hotels and business centres.
“The management and tenants at the Bahrain Financial Harbour, for example, have been particularly supportive hosting several events including the Where’s Baloo? Art Sale. If I go to the BFH without Baloo people call out Where’s Baloo? When is he coming back?
“At the National Schools’ Exhibition, Baloo met hundreds of children and adults and without exception everyone was happy to see him and understood the positive role he played.
“With Baloo’s advancing age - he is over 90 in human years - I have had reduce his appearances. He still goes to RIA to take part in special events and work with a small number of students but sadly he will soon have to retire.
“Misha is a black Labrador Retriever that I am training him, with input from Pauline, to replace Baloo, although he is likely to have a slightly different role initially as a ‘read aloud to’ dog. As he matures he will hopefully work more closely with the children.
Sarah says she has another book idea and would love to talk to any company who would be interested in sponsoring the third book in the series.
Where’s Baloo? has been translated into Arabic and Sarah hopes to raise funds to print that version too as she has had ‘a very positive response’ from the Arabic-speaking community.”
This Way Baloo! will be launched officially on Saturday with a book signing and fun session at the Bookcase on Budaiya Highway, another of the project’s big supporters, where fans can meet Sarah, Sunanda and Baloo from 9.30am to 11.30am. Children will be invited to take part in art activities and listen to the story. This Way Baloo! is priced BD4 with a portion of the price going to RIA to further fund educational programmes at the centre. Call 17690566 for more details.
