In a nutshell: fast-moving, funny, highly-illustrated story with a very unusual central character
Harriet is best friends with Horace – though at first they wouldn’t seem to have much in common. He’s a statue, and was a naval commander in the late 1700s, and she’s a seven (and a half) year old. Nonetheless they get on really well, even when they have different priorities, as in this adventure. Harriet is busy with her new holiday job dog-walking, while Horace is keen to find any kind of job at all, eventually landing one at the local newspaper. When one of the dogs in her care goes missing, Harriet appeals to Horace for help – will he come to the rescue? It’s a wonderfully daft adventure full of zany situations but rooted in the very real friendship that exists between the two central characters, and is thoroughly charming. ~Andrea Reece
Horace and Harriet: Every Dog Has Its Day Synopsis
Harriet is seven. And a quarter. Horace is seventeenth century. And a STATUE! When Harriet starts working as a dog walker in the summer holidays, Horace finds his own job on the local paper and although his style of journalism is unconventional, his cult following comes into its own when one of Harriet's doggy proteges goes missing.
Clare Elsom is an illustrator of lots of children's books, including the Flying Fergus series, written by Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy and Joanna Nadin, and Furry Friends, the new series from bestselling author Holly Webb.
Horace and Harriet is her first authored series.
She studied Illustration at Falmouth University (lots of drawing) and also has an MA in Children's Literature from Roehampton University (lots of writing).
She grew up in Oxford, lived in London and then ran away to beautiful Devon where she spends her free time tap-dancing, paddle boarding and drinking cinnamon lattes. You can keep up with Clare on Instagram @clare_elsom