Welcome to The Tales of Charlie Wags: London by Ali Barclay and Sofie Wells Book Tour hosted by The Children’s Book Review. 

About the Book

Charlie Wags is a seemingly ordinary pup. He goes on daily walks, chases squirrels, and scours the kitchen floor for crumbs when no one’s looking.

But Charlie has an extraordinary secret. He loves to travel the world and has a special trick to do so: his wagging tail can whisk him away to far-off places!

This time, he’s off to London, England!

Embark on a panoramic tour of London led by ever-curious pup, Charlie Wags! From the grandeur of Buckingham Palace to an evening ride on the London Eye, Charlie explores the Big Smoke before returning home for bedtime.

Wherever you may be, the world is just a wag away. ™

Review of Charlie Wags: London

The sequel to The Tales of Charlie Wags: New York City has hit the bookshelves, and it’s every bit as intriguing! Charlie is the cutest pup I’ve ever seen and was so fortunate to have him back in the studio for another interview. Check out The Tales of Charlie Wags: New York City here.

This tale is like a vacation and educational book rolled into one. We loved seeing the sights of London including a red phone booth, the London Eye, and of course, Buckingham Palace. It was simple enough to hold the littles attention but riveting enough to make me want to go back for a visit. The illustrations are true to life and represent the sights that Charlie attended very well. They certainly helped to mezmorize young and old(er) alike. We can’t wait to embark on the Paris trip next! 

About the Author

Sister-author duo Ali Barclay and Sofie Wells form the writing team behind The Tales of Charlie Wags picture book series. The series offers young explorers a conversational understanding of the world’s most famous cities.

As daughters of immigrants, their family heritage exposed the sisters to the importance of cultural diversity early on. Their parents prioritized showing them the world, even on a tight budget. This instilled in them the idea that travel is one of the best forms of education.

Recognizing that not all children had the chance to explore the world firsthand, Sofie and Ali saw an opportunity to share their travel experiences with other families and children through charming stories that make far-off places accessible.

Website – Instagram – Facebook

About the Illustrator

Sanna Sjöström, also known as Sannadorable, is based in Sweden and creates stunning digital watercolor illustrations.

Sanna has loved art her whole life and has plenty of experience painting with watercolor. When she had children, she didn’t have the time or energy to pull out all the necessary supplies to paint. She found that her iPad was accessible in just seconds; so, she started mimicking watercolor digitally.

She now illustrates for children’s books, but also creates posters, cards, and digital illustration tools. Her biggest inspiration comes from flowers and nature. Sanna’s mission is to brighten your day and make you smile through her art.

Giveaway for Charlie Wags: London

Enter our giveaway for a chance to win a signed hardcover copy of The Tales of Charlie Wags: New York City, a collection of adorable Charlie Wags greeting cards, AND a $50 Amazon gift card to fuel your next reading spree!

  The Tales of Charlie Wags: London: Book Giveaway

Click here for the entry form.

Interview with Charlie Wags

Kim: Charlie! We’re pawsitively excited to have you back with us today. He’s here to unleash his latest adventure to London.

Charlie: I am so excited to be back, Kim!    

Kim: How did you decide on London? 

Charlie: Oh, Kim, London’s got it all—fancy clocks, royal guards, and beautiful sights at every turn! I picked London because it’s paw-sitively full of history, and I wanted to see it all. Plus, I heard Queen Elizabeth loved corgis, so I figured I’d fit right in!

Kim: That she did. If someone could only see one thing in London, what would you suggest? I know this is hard as a bone to answer, there are so many tongue-wagging sights!

Charlie: *eyes widen* That’s like asking a pup to choose his favorite treat! But if I have to pick one… Big Ben takes the crown! It’s as iconic as a cuppa tea, and when that bell rings, it’s like the whole city’s giving me a proper welcome.

Kim: I saw you in that red box – is it a Porta Pooch Potty?

Charlie: *chuckles* Good one, Kim! But no, it’s a classic red phone booth—London style! It’s one of those things you have to snap a pic with. I tried a quick call to the King to invite him to join my pals for tea, but with all my tail-wagging, I must have dialed the wrong number. Guess I’ll have to try again next time!

Kim: There’s a huge park by Buckingham Palace, did you play Hyde and Seek? 

Charlie: Nice play on words. You bet I did! But I didn’t include it in my story because—well, I wasn’t sure readers needed to know about me chasing pigeons around the lake. Maybe I’ll save that tale for a sequel!

Moving on to Buckingham Palace

Kim: At Buckingham Palace, the guards didn’t even rub your belly? That’s ruff. How could they resist?

Charlie: I really tried, too! They’re just so serious. I gave them my best “woe is me” puppy eyes, but I guess they’re all business. 

Kim: Here Charlie, I’ll give you a belly rub. Westminister Abbey has ten bells, did you hear them ring? 

Charlie: Oh, Kim, it was unlike anything I’d ever experienced! It was the perfect symphony of bells and tail wags. I tried to howl along with them, but it turns out I don’t have the range. *shrugs*

Kim: What’s that funny-looking vehicle in front of it?

Charlie: That’d be a famous red double-decker bus, Kim! It’s used for public transportation in London, and let me tell you, it’s one of the best ways to get around. I climbed to the top deck so I could get a view of all the sights. And with no one sitting next to me, my tail had plenty of room to wag without bumping anyone!

Kim: Ahhh! So, you found out Big Ben wasn’t a person – did that surprise you? How did Big Ben get its name? 

Charlie: I was confused when I received zero belly rubs from Big Ben. But here’s a fun fact—I learned Big Ben is the name of the bell inside the clock tower, not the tower itself. *pauses for dramatic effect* And get this! The bell was named after Sir Benjamin Hall, who oversaw its installation. 

Kim: That’s one huge clock – it probably rings as a reminder to take your dog for a walk! 

Charlie: Oh yes, Kim! I think you’re onto something there. If it was up to me, it’d ring every hour to let me know it’s time for snacks… or maybe another nap. 

Time for a Treat

Kim: You looked mighty dapper all dressed up! What is your favorite flavor of scones? I like raspberry myself. 

Charlie: *blushes* Why thank you, Kim! I do love a good scone. A plain scone with clotted cream and jam is my go-to. Plus, it goes great with a pup’uccino.

Kim: Oh yum! Dog-gone it, I have to ask, did the London Bridge really fall down like in the song for kids? 

Charlie: Well, Kim, I was really confused about this one! When I first heard about London Bridge, I thought it was the iconic one they hung the Olympic rings off with those two big towers. Turns out London Bridge is just down the River Thames. And shockingly—London Bridge didn’t fall down! It’s standing strong and proud right where it should be. I guess the song was just being dramatic… but I did give both bridges a couple of extra sniffs to make sure they weren’t about to topple.

Kim: That’s great to learn. Charlie, there’s a flag flying at the Tower of London but it doesn’t look like ours, why is it different? 

Charlie: Great eye, Kim! That flag is the Union Jack, the official flag of the United Kingdom. It looks totally different from the American flag because it combines symbols from England, Scotland, and Ireland. Instead of stars and stripes, it’s made up of three overlapping crosses. Fancy, huh? 

Funny Names

Kim: It sure is! You talk about chips at the Borough Market but they look like French fries – what’s up with that? 

Charlie: Now Kim, this one threw me for a loop! In England, “chips” are what we call French fries, and what we call “chips,” they call “crisps!” So when I heard about fish and chips, I thought I was getting a plate of fish and potato chips—imagine my surprise when a big pile of golden, fluffy fries showed up instead! Best mix-up ever.

Kim: Why do they use funny names for stuff? We say “hello,” they say “cheerio” – that sounds like what we eat for breakfast. What are more differences that made you shake your paw?

Charlie: I know, right?! It’s like we’re speaking the same language but playing a game of fetch with different words! They say “biscuit” instead of “cookie,” “holiday” instead of “vacation,” and instead of an elevator, they take a “lift.” One of my favorites? They don’t join a “line”—they “queue up!” How charming!

Kim: Thanks for more examples. That is one big ferris wheel! Did you howl at the top? 

Charlie: Now I know I’m just a small pup, but oh, Kim, the London Eye is huge! From up there, it felt like the whole city was at my paws. And did I howl? You bet I did—a proud, echoing “Awoooo!” that sent birds scattering… and maybe a few tourists, too.

Time to Wrap Up

Kim: It’s almost time to wrap up already. Where are you heading on your next adventure? 

Charlie: Do you hear that? Paris is calling—oh là là! The Eiffel Tower, buttery pastries, and maybe even a little doggy beret for me. Très chic, don’t you think?

Kim: Oh yes! Another of my favorite places and I think Notre Dame is open again. Thank you Charlie for stopping by and sharing your pawsitively pawsome travel stories! I could read them fur-ever. 

Charlie: This was tail-waggingly fun, Kim! Thanks for having me—I could chat about my adventures until my tail falls off.. which is, by the way, impossible! Until next time… woof woof! tail wags, and Charlie vanishes in a puff of golden sparkles

Charlie Wags: London Book Tour

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