The Adventures of Tony Balony and Cookie

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Are you looking for short stories to read with your youngsters?   The adventures of Tony Balony and Cookie are short, easy to read stories, great for bedtime reading.  Be inspired to share stories from your own youth, and to encourage your children to tell their own. 

Basic Details

Title: The Adventures of Tony Balony and Cookie
Author: Tony Walker
Illustrator: Chuck Jones
Designer: Kimberly Corbett
Publisher: Tony Balony, Inc.
Pages: 34
Intended Audience: children
Formats available: Hardcover
Genre: Children’s dog books, Children’s action and adventure books,
Reviewed for: PrimeStar Publicity

Author and Book Details

Normally Tony Walker writes books on finances, having been in that field for 38 years.  This is his first book for children, taking stories from his childhood to impart life lessons, in short adventures.  Set in the 1960’s he aims to use nostalgia as part of the delight of adults reading with their children.  Married, with three children, along with grandchildren.  He has a black Russian terrier as a pet. 

The Adventures of Tony Balony and Cookie tell the made up story of Tony as a child.  Aiming to impart life lessons through short stories with him and his dog. Set in the 1960’s, work, fun trips, time with family, and growing up fill the pages. 

A Closer Look at The Adventures of Tony Balony and Cookie

Twelve short stories round out the page of The Adventures of Tony Balony and Cookie.  Most are told over two pages, with accompanying illustrations. Most of the stories have good life lessons, but generally just make for a quick, fun read with young children. 

All the stories are done in couplet rhyme.  This makes for a quick reading story that flows easily off the tongue. The nostalgia in the stories should encourage parents to tell children their own stories of their youth. 

Colourful illustrations accompany each story, bringing aspects to life!   I absolutely adored the cute pup, and how his friends looked, for the most part, like children.  The heads of the children often looked rather “bobble-headish”.  

Read it with your littles?

I have to admit to being distracted by the very adult (to me) looking child Tony.   I found it distracting from the simple stories being told.  12 stories fill the pages, these stories encompassing the lives of children 4-7 years old. 

Do the stories have merit?  I think for the most part they do.  I didn’t care for the “learns to potty” story, but many of the other stories were decent.  Part of me wishes that the stories had a bit more oomph to them as the life lessons were very light.  But all told, these are stories for littles to read quickly for fun.  Perhaps to inspire stories from their parents, or to encourage stories from the children.   The Adventures of Tony Balony and Cookie are stories I’d be happy enough to read once or twice with littles for sure. 

I would use these stories as bedtime stories, they would be an excellent way to close out a day and give a child something to dream on.  🙂