Book cover art: Niko sits in a meadow below the old oak tree, where Shelly stands on a branch and Luna peeks out of a hollow.

Three Paws, book 1

Three Paws: How We Met

Name: Three Paws: How We Met
Author: Ollie Ocean

by Ollie Ocean · picture book · ages 4 to 8

Niko loves Willowbrook. He chases butterflies, rolls in the warm sun and dreams of big adventures. But he has nobody to share them with.

Then one morning, a little voice calls from the old oak tree: "Wait! Wait for me!"

Meet Niko the Cocker Spaniel, Luna the young owl and Shelly the squirrel in the very first Three Paws adventure. A funny, warm read-aloud about how friends come in all shapes and sizes. Some have floppy ears, some have fluffy tails, and some have feet, not paws!

Coming soon in paperback.

Who it's for

A picture book for children aged 4 to 8. It's written to be read aloud by a grown-up to children of 4 to 6, and the pages are short enough for many 7 and 8 year olds to read on their own.

Niko tells the story in his own words. There's a line for children to join in with, "Wait! Wait for me!", which comes back at the end with a little twist. And there are just three new words to talk about, hollow, tufts and brook, each one explained by the pictures or the next line.

It's a gentle story about being new somewhere, making friends, and laughing together, so it works for bedtime, story time in class, or a child who has just moved.

What's in the book

The story runs across 13 double-page spreads, with a picture across every spread. At the back there are three extra pages for grown-ups and children to share:

Did you know? Three short real-world facts from the story: an owl's ears are hidden (those tufts are feathers), some owls have one ear higher than the other to help them find sounds in the dark, and a squirrel's fluffy tail helps it balance and keep warm.
Meet the Three Paws. A page introducing Niko, Luna and Shelly, so children can get to know each friend.
More Three Paws adventures. What comes next in the series.

Look inside

Three spreads from the book. The pictures are shown here without their words, which are in the captions.

Niko the Cocker Spaniel stands dizzy in a meadow of poppies and daisies, with stars circling his head, while Luna, a small pink owl, waves from a hollow in the old oak tree. — **Pages 10 and 11.** "Up here!" A small pink owl was peeking out of a hollow in the old oak tree.

Niko sits smiling under the old oak while Luna perches on a tree stump and points to the two feathery tufts on top of her head. — **Pages 16 and 17.** "Ears?" said Luna. "My ears are up here." She pointed to the two feathery tufts on top of her head.

An acorn bounces off Niko's nose and he tumbles backward in surprise, as Shelly, a red-brown squirrel, scampers headfirst down the trunk of the oak. — **Pages 20 and 21.** *Bonk!* Something small and hard bounced off my nose. It was an acorn!

Format

Format: Paperback picture book
Pages: 32
Size: 8.5 × 8.5 in (21.6 × 21.6 cm), square
Inside: Full color on every page
Ages: 4 to 8
Language: English
Series: Three Paws, book 1
Status: Coming soon in paperback

For grown-ups who read with children

How We Met reading guide: discussion questions, the three new words, and simple activities.
Meet the Three Paws: Niko, Luna and Shelly in more depth, and their home in Willowbrook.
Do owls have ears? Owl facts to share with kids: the real facts behind Luna's ear mix-up.

Free Three Paws coloring pages

Four pages from the coloring book: the color cover, Niko on the village path, Luna peeking out of the oak tree, and the three friends playing in the meadow.

Niko, Luna and Shelly, ready to color in. Join Ollie Ocean's newsletter and we'll email you a printable coloring book from How We Met, in US Letter and A4.

Get the free 12-page coloring book