Harvey Takes the Lead

The award-winning Harvey Stories are back with a new story of acceptance, understanding, and the loving comfort of everyone's favorite Westie.

There's nothing quite like the loving companionship of a loyal dog. When Harvey's status as Brayside's comfort dog comes into question, the elderly residents are quick to stand up for him.

Mr. Kowalski, a longstanding Brayside resident, is struggling with his wife's recent hospitalization. As Harvey watches over him, Mr. Kowalski shares stories of his youth during World War II--tales which fascinates Harvey's friend Austin. At the same time, the newly appointed Assistant Director Hilary Appleby, the person who wants to get rid of Harvey, also creates unreasonable rules which make the residents of Brayside miserable.

The new school season for Austin and Harvey's owner Maggie proves to be harder than expected. Maggie's audition for the school play of Annie doesn't go as planned, with the role she wanted going to Ndidi, who rarely comes out to rehearsals. Austin, for his part, is battling shame around not being able to afford a school trip.

Award-winning author Colleen Nelson and illustrator Tara Anderson team up once again to deliver another engaging story where Harvey's exceptional nose leads Maggie and Austin to find resolution to the many challenges they face.

Themes of acceptance, understanding, and intergenerational friendships are the strengths of this middle-grade novel.

An author and elementary school teacher, Colleen Nelson earned her Bachelor of Education from the University of Manitoba in her hometown of Winnipeg. Her novels in The Harvey Stories include the multi-award-winning Harvey Comes Home and Harvey Holds His Own, which was a finalist for the Governor General's Award. She is also the author of Sadia, winner of the 2019 Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Award, Blood Brothers, selected as the 2018 McNally Robinson Book of the Year for Young People, and the picture book Teaching Mrs. Muddle. Colleen writes daily in between appearances at hockey rinks and soccer fields in support of her two sports-loving sons.

A folk artist and award-winning illustrator who trained at the Ontario College of Art and Design, Tara Anderson is known for her lively and humorous illustrations of animals. Her books include the illustrated novels Harvey Comes Home, Harvey Holds His Own, and Sapphire the Great and the Meaning of Life, the holiday picture books Pumpkin Orange, Pumpkin Round and Easter Morning, Easter Sun, and the award-winning Nat the Cat Can Sleep Like That. Tara shares a farmhouse in Tweed, Ontario, with her husband, her young daughter, and several cats.