Meet Django the Dachshund, the loveable lead character in a new series of children’s books that do much more than simply tell a story. Created by psychologist, Dr Julie Paine, and based on life with her best friend, Django’s adventures are, uniquely, both written for children, and the adults they will become.
“Over the years, I’ve seen so many adults for whom understanding, and emotional regulation
were difficult in childhood. Time after time I think, if only I could have spoken to them as
children, they might be in a very different place right now – less anxious, more confident,
flexible, and resilient; better placed to deal with what life has dealt them.”
Julie may not be able to turn back time, but she can, with the help of her beloved Dachshund,
Django, encourage today’s children to develop some emotional resilience in this uncertain
world. “Realising that many people hold on to the same worries as you do can come as a
complete revelation. I don’t want them to have to wait for later life therapy to understand that.”
The Concept
“I’m not here to tell parents how to parent, or children how they should feel or behave. The
concept was born from years of experience in adult psychology, identifying the common
childhood threads, of trying to navigate complex emotions, and often feeling confused,
misunderstood and anxious. Viewed through the eyes of Django, as narrator, the stories
encourage perspective-taking and emotional resilience.”
Django on paper.
“I always knew exactly how I wanted Django to look on
paper, and I hope children will fall head over heels in love
with her. I needed someone who could take what I had in
my head and bring it to life. Illustrator, Nicola Metcalfe, did
just that. I’m so thrilled with the way Django, and all the
characters, are depicted.”
Through warm, uplifting text and enchanting illustrations, Django reaches into the hearts of
children, understands their worries, and suggests new ways of looking at the world. Feisty,
funny, and incredibly loveable, Django wants nothing more than to be a child’s best friend.
In Joss and the Lucky Boots, Julie’s first book, about a sporting challenge, Django discovers
the real reason behind Joss’s worries and encourages her to take a different approach. Just
when everything seems to have gone horribly wrong Joss has a brilliant idea…
Why Django?
“Always here, no matter what. Django is my constant companion, devoted, and affectionate –
we have an impenetrable bond. I’ve had several dogs over the years, but none as emotionally
intelligent as Django, who always seems to know how to make me feel good, and there’s real
comfort in that. A small child and very small dog create a beautiful dynamic; one I wanted to
replicate in these stories. They share being small in a big and often confusing world.”
About Joss and the Lucky Boots
(for readers aged 6-9 years)
Django, the worry dog
“Children, just like adults, can find it hard to voice their worries, or find relief from
them, often believing they are unique to them. That’s why I was so passionate about
creating something tangible to sit alongside the book. I envisaged a comfort dog that
children could share their troubles with, based on the idea behind Guatemalan worry
dolls. Django is not magic, but she can hold their worries so that they don’t have to
think about them all the time. Producing Django, the worry dog, has been a labour of
love. The end result, small enough to fit in a pocket, school bag or down a sock.”
We loved this book. The character of Django is such a hit with children. The story is a wonderful thing that teaches resilience. The worry dog is also adorable. He can be kept in your pocket. Frost loves.