The Brockets Get a Dog: Beyond the Stars

The Brockets Get a Dog: Beyond the Stars
Paul Howard

John Boyne

Abigail Crumb works every day after school at the local vet’s while she saves up for a present for her pet elephant. So when she loses – and then finds again – one of the puppies in her care, she knows she can’t tell anyone without putting her job on the line. But how will she keep her secret?After several chance encounters with Henry Brocket – a lonely little boy who’s always dressed as a pilot – Abigail suddenly realises what she needs to do.John Boyne’s extraordinary tale of a little girl and her menagerie is brought to life by evocative illustrations.Look out for the eleven other stories – also available as e-shorts!

Other short stories from Beyond the Stars collection, also available as e-books: (#ulink_78316114-389e-577e-af65-d6f0601cccbd)

The Star Dogs (http://ads.harpercollins.com/bobauk?isbn=9780008103323)by Roddy Doyle, illustrated by Steve Simpson

The Hero of Drumree (http://ads.harpercollins.com/bobauk?isbn=9780008103330)by Derek Landy, illustrated by Alan Clarke

How to Help Your Grandda (http://ads.harpercollins.com/bobauk?isbn=9780008103354)by Judi Curtin, illustrated by Chris Judge

The Lookout (http://ads.harpercollins.com/bobauk?isbn=9780008103361)by Eoin Colfer, illustrated by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick

The Snow Globe (http://ads.harpercollins.com/bobauk?isbn=9780008103378)by Marita Conlon-McKenna, illustrated by P J Lynch

The King of the Birds (http://ads.harpercollins.com/bobauk?isbn=9780008103385)by Michael Scott, illustrated by Chris Haughton

The Battle of the Ice Queen (http://ads.harpercollins.com/bobauk?isbn=9780008103392)by Gordon Snell, illustrated by Michael Emberley

The Last Cat (http://ads.harpercollins.com/bobauk?isbn=9780008103408)by Celine Kiernan, illustrated by Tatyana Feeney

Across the Cold Ground (http://ads.harpercollins.com/bobauk?isbn=9780008103415) written and illustrated by Oisín McGann

Ice Fairies (http://ads.harpercollins.com/bobauk?isbn=9780008103422)by Siobhán Parkinson, illustrated by Olwyn Whelan

Discovering Bravery (http://ads.harpercollins.com/bobauk?isbn=9780008115593) by Emma Brade, illustrated by Niamh Sharkey

The Brockets Get a Dog

John Boyne

Illustrated by Paul Howard

Copyright (#ulink_3a078ba6-af87-5c6f-ad90-c5adb3af6c61)

First published in Great Britain and Ireland by HarperCollins Children’s Books and Fighting Words Ltd. as a story in Beyond the Stars: Twelve Tales of Adventure, Magic and Wonder

HarperCollins Children’s Books is a division of HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd, 77-85 Fulham Palace Road, Hammersmith, London W6 8JB Fighting Words Ltd. Company Registered Charity CHY 18262

Visit us on the web at

www.harpercollins.co.uk (http://www.harpercollins.co.uk)

and

www.fightingwords.ie (http://www.fightingwords.ie)

‘The Brockets Get a Dog’ text © John Boyne 2014, illustrations © Paul Howard 2014

Cover design © HarperCollins Children’s Books, cover image © Shutterstock

John Boyne and Paul Howard assert the moral right to be identified as the author and illustrator of this work.

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this ebook onscreen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins ebooks and Fighting Words.

Visit our websites at: www.harpercollins.co.uk (http://www.harpercollins.co.uk) and www.fightingwords.ie (http://www.fightingwords.ie)

Source ISBN: 9780007578467

Ebook Edition © 2014 ISBN: 9780008103347

Version: 2014-09-10

CONTENTS

Cover (#u0212b872-53d3-58bb-8b4a-62557240f027)

Other e-Shorts in Series (#u0c8b4d4d-08b8-56af-aea8-fa7af4c11242)

Title Page (#ucb8532ee-44bc-57c2-b2f0-22ab776bb12a)

Copyright (#u409d75da-3263-5ef6-b58a-1813c5842f19)

Introduction (#uea9754c5-2153-5f51-97a5-efed52fac29e)

The Brockets Get a Dog (#u6f1b6a20-3138-5a3e-8f2a-9963beae2e2c)

The Write to Right (#litres_trial_promo)

About the Author and Illustrator (#litres_trial_promo)

About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)

(#ulink_495cc06a-6ac5-5329-921d-288ac0360894)

Beyond the Stars is unique.

Why did twenty-three stellar children’s writers and illustrators band together to show their love and support for Fighting Words, a creative writing centre in the heart of Dublin city?

That’s easy. Because, like this book, Fighting Words is unique. As Roddy Doyle, the centre’s co-founder, says, “It’s a big bright room. In an area that needs a big bright room. In a climate that needs a big bright room.”

Fighting Words is a remarkable place that provides free tutoring in creative writing to all ages, but most especially to children and teenagers. It gives young writers a voice and helps them to reach their creative potential. And above all, it’s fun.

In January 2009 I volunteered at Fighting Words’ very first Primary School Workshop. The room was so full of creativity, joy and optimism I thought my heart would burst. With the help of a storyteller, an illustrator and a team of volunteers, each of the children involved wrote their own book. On the back of each book (every young writer was given their own copy to take home – complete with wonderful full-colour illustrations) was a photograph of the child’s smiling face and a blank box for them to add their very own writer’s biography. Leaving the centre, their faces shone with happiness.

Since that first workshop, I have volunteered at Fighting Words whenever I can. I have always left that big bright room inspired, uplifted and with a joyful heart. This book is my thank you to the centre, for creating a haven of the imagination – my love letter to Fighting Words if you like. I hope they will allow me to continue to be a small part of the magic for many years to come. A huge thank you must also go to Roddy Doyle and Sean Love for their help with this book.