Charlie Wags
If I had a tail, it would be wagging! Hot off the presses: I scored an interview with Charlie Wags himself!
Check out The Tales of Charlie Wags: New York City by Sofie Wells and Ali Barclay Book Tour hosted by The Children’s Book Review.
Don’t forget to enter the paw-mazing giveaway!
About the Book

Title: The Tales of Charlie Wags: NYC
Written by: Sofie Wells and Ali Barclay
Illustrated by: Sanna Sjöström
Ages: 3-7 | 32 Pages
Publisher: Kendam Press (2025)
ISBN: 979-8-9900050-0-6
Find it: Amazon
Charlie Wags is a seemingly ordinary pup. He sits on demand, is appropriately needy, and only sometimes begs for treats. 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 the Big Apple!
Embark on a panoramic tour of New York City led by ever-curious pup Charlie Wags! From the serenity of Central Park to the dazzling lights of Times Square, Charlie explores the city that never sleeps before returning home for bedtime.
Wherever you may be, The World Is Just a Wag Away.™
About the Author
Sister-author duo Sofie Wells and Ali Barclay form the writing team behind The Tales of Charlie Wags picture book series.
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, instilling in them the idea that travel is one of the best forms of education.
Knowing that not all children had the chance to explore the world firsthand, they put pen to paper to create a tale about a globetrotting dog. They hoped their story would allow young readers to experience the wonders of the world without ever having to leave their homes.
Their series mission is simple: provide a conversational understanding of the world’s most famous cities through charming stories that make far-off places accessible to every child and family.
Website – Instagram – Facebook
About the Illustrator
Sanna Sjöström, known professionally as Sannadorable, has loved art her whole life. With an extensive background in watercolor painting, she found it increasingly difficult to find the time and energy for her art after having children. Realizing how quickly she could access her iPad, Sanna began experimenting with digital art, skillfully mimicking the look of watercolor.
Today, Sanna illustrates children’s books and also creates posters, cards, and digital illustration tools. Through her creations, she aims to bring joy and smiles to people’s faces.
Sanna’s distinctive style—rooted in her deep appreciation for nature and her love for finding beauty in the ordinary—brings iconic cities to life in enchanting, rose-colored hues throughout The Tales of Charlie Wags series.
PAWmazing Charlie Wags Giveaway
Enter our giveaway to win a hardcover copy, personalized by Charlie Wags himself! One lucky winner will also receive Charlie Wags greeting cards, coloring pages, and a $100 gift card to Amazon.
The Tales of Charlie Wags: New York City: Book GiveawayClick here for the entry form.
Interview with the Big Dog
We’re pawsitively excited to have Charlie Wags with us today. Have you heard about his latest adventure to New York City? Wow! It’s pawsome!
Kim: Hi Charlie, it’s great to have you with us today.
Charlie: Woof woof! I’m so excited to be here, Kim, thanks for having me! *shakes tail in a slow, controlled manner*
Kim: Your new adventure is fabulous, but we’ve got to ask – how did you learn you could just wag and go?
Charlie: You see, Kim, I get really excited about, well, everything! One day when I was just a puppy, I was perched in my usual spot atop the sofa, lying in the perfect stream of light and watching TV. I saw some dogs running in a massive green park—it turned out to be Central Park—and my tail started wagging uncontrollably. Before I knew it (*tries to snap, fails*) there I was! It was pawsitively magical.
Kim: That’s amazing! Can you teach me pawlease?
Charlie: Of course! Just think about where you’d love to be most, then give your tail a good wag. Ummm, you do have a tail, right?
Adventure Awaits
Kim: Unfortunately, no. Please tell us more, where did you go on your first adventure?
Charlie: Straight to New York City! It was love at first wag.
Kim: Do you go to a random place or do you get to choose the destination?
Charlie: *Wags tail with pride* I totally get to choose now! At first, it was a bit random—one time I ended up in a doggy daycare—but now I can aim my tail magic. Sometimes, something around my house will inspire me. Like in our living room—my family always has books about different cities lying around. I love sitting by the window, letting the warm sunlight hit my fur, and flipping through those books. Then, I pick a place and give my tail a good wag. Next thing I know, I’m off to see the city with my own eyes!
Kim: What a pawsitively fantastic superpower! Back to New York City, there was so much going on at Central Park – did you fly a kite? paddle a boat? ride a bike?
Charlie: Better than all that—I chased 35 squirrels. I counted! I think they’re still talking about me in squirrel circles.
Kim: That sounds wonderful (for a dog)! Tell us more about NYC… We love going to the zoo and can watch penguins all day long. What was your favorite animal at the zoo?
Charlie: The penguins were adorable, but I think the monkeys were my favorite! They reminded me of me—always playing and wagging. Plus, they threw a banana at me when I tried to join their “ooh ooh aah aah.” Pretty sure that’s a huge compliment!
It’s a Dog’s Life
Kim: Sure it was. We loved learning details about each place you visited in the back of the book. We learned the Empire State Building is 1454 feet tall, how many stories is that?
Charlie: Too many for these little legs! Luckily, there was an elevator, so it was a quick ride to the top. Sure, I could’ve wagged there, but I wanted the genuine experience, you know?
Kim: Pawdon me, but have you ever seen an elevator with that many buttons?
Charlie: No, and you can be sure I pressed every single one as soon as I ran in! I think everyone on the ride up with me loved it!
Kim: I’m sure they did (*insert eye roll). The One World Trade building is magnificent. Is that a huge water feature in front of it? Holy bones, Charlie, how big is it? It looks so calming and peaceful.
Charlie: Oh, Kim, it’s huge and breathtaking. I tried to count the ripples in the water, but then got distracted by my reflection.
Kim: We’ve heard New York pizza is the best… what’s your favorite topping?
Charlie: Ooooh, bacon! No… sausage! Pepperoni… um… uhhh. *drools* Can you repeat the question pawlease?
Starbarks
Kim: We get it, you like all the toppings. I spied a coffee shop next to the pizza joint, was it a Starbarks?
Charlie: Woof woof! I like what you did there! Not quite, but they did have pup-friendly treats. I got a “Pup’uccino.” It was delicious and caffeine free! My mom says I have enough energy as it is! *pants happily with a smile and unblinking eyes.*
Kim: What a great treat! You explained the Statue of Liberty used to be copper, like a shiny penny. Why did it turn green?
Charlie: It’s because of something fancy called “oxidation,” but I like to think she got tired of being shiny and said, “Patina? Yes, please!”
Kim: Surely, when you were on Broadway, you gave the actors a-paws. We have to ask, how do you clap with paws?
Charlie: It’s all in the technique. A little paw pat here, a little tail wag there, a howl if I’m really feeling it—it’s a full-body effort! A little improv goes a long way, Kim!
Getting Around
Kim: In the movies, you see everyone hailing a taxi. Did you get to ride in one? How hard was it to get the taxi to stop?
Charlie: Oh, I tried! But the drivers were so confused by a dog trying to hail them. There were lots of hand gestures I wasn’t able to pick up on. My English is pretty good, but I must not understand New Yorker!
Kim: Oh no, that’s a ruff walk. Time Square looks like a circus with all the action. What was your favorite color of lights?
Charlie: The blue ones! They reminded me of my favorite squeaky toy I left back at home.
Kim: Smiles. We noticed the pictures from around the world on your wall. Have you been to all those places?
Charlie: You betcha! Those are all pictures I’ve taken. Thanks for noticing! I love photography, and I always have my camera with me on my adventures. I’m quite the pup-arazzi! Maybe one day, I’ll share the stories behind each one.
Kim: Where are you heading on your next adventure?
Charlie: London, England! I hear there’s someone named Big Ben there. I can’t wait to meet him—do you think he likes belly rubs?
Kim: Umm, Charlie, Big Ben is a… never mind, you can find out for yourself. London sounds pawfect! We’ll keep an eye out for your next “tail”.
Charlie: This was so fun, Kim! Let’s do it again soon. Woof! *tail wags and Charlie disappears into a cloud of gold sparkles.*

Charlie Wags Book Tour
Monday, January 6, 2025 The Children’s Book Review Book Review |
Tuesday, January 7, 2025 Confessions of a Book Addict Book Spotlight |
Wednesday, January 8, 2025 icefairy’s Treasure Chest Book Review |
Thursday, January 9, 2025 Life is What It’s Called Author Interview |
Friday, January 10, 2025 @avainbookland Book Review |
Monday, January 13, 2025 Country Mamas With Kids Guest post |
Wednesday, January 15, 2025 Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers Book Review |
Thursday, January 16, 2025 Mrs. Makes Reading Fun Book Review |
Friday, January 17, 2025 Crafty Moms Share Book Review |
Monday, January 20, 2025 Deliciously Savvy Guest post |
Tuesday, January 21, 2025 The Fairview Review Book Review |
Wednesday, January 22, 2025 Q&As with Deborah Kalb Author Interview |
Thursday, January 23, 2025 Twirling Book Princess Book Review |
Friday, January 24, 2025 One More Exclamation Interview with Charlie Wags |
Monday, January 27, 2025 Cover Lover Book Review Book Review |
Tuesday, January 28, 2025 Froggy Read Teach Book Review |
Wednesday, January 29, 2025 A Blue Box Full of Books Book Review |
Thursday, January 30, 2025 Pages for Paige Book Review |
Friday, January 31, 2025 The Starlit Path Book Review |
All Things Bookish
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