Books

'STICKY THE DOG', by Robert Wheeler

Reviewed by Catherine Sheehan

Contents - Nov 2001 - Buy a copy now Editorial: Synod of Oceania document imminent - 'Ecclesia in Oceania' - Peter Westmore Tenth Synod of Bishops: Bishops called to courageous witness to the Faith - AD2000 News: The Church Around the World A young Catholic's views on the state of the Church in Australia - James Connolly Brisbane liturgy director calls Vatican document "a betrayal" - Michael Gilchrist Pastoral letter: Taking up John Paul II's concerns about the Sacrament of Penance - Archbishop Barry J. Hickey Cardinal Ratzinger's latest book-interview - 'God and the World' - Zenit News Service Winter school: Evangelising in a "post-pagan" culture - Fr Anthony Mastroeni Opinion: Catholics before and after Vatican II: separating fact from myth - John Young Letters: Forgotten teachings - Fr John Speekman Letters: Catholic women - Errol P. Duke Letters: Immigration policy - George F. Simpson Letters: Classification Guidelines - Mrs Carol V. Phillips Letters: A response on the Creation of Man - Gerry Keane Letters: Catholic teaching - John Schmid Letters: St Thomas Aquinas - Valentine Gallagher Obituary: Lew Bennett R.I.P. Books: 'The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Jewish Origins of Christianity', Carsten Theide - Anthony Cappello (reviewer) 'Those Terrible Middle Ages', by Règine Pernoud - Christopher Quinn (reviewer) Books: My Dear Young Friends: Pope John Paul II Speaks to Teens on Life, Love, Courage - Mary-Jane Donnellan (reviewer) Books: 'Pardon And Peace: A Sinner's Guide to Confession', by Fr Francis Randolph - Christopher Quinn (reviewer) Tapes: Thomas More Center Brisbane Winter School, July 2001 Books: 'The Glenstal Book Of Prayer: A Benedictine Prayer Book - Mary-Jane Donnellan (reviewer) Books: 'STICKY THE DOG', by Robert Wheeler - Catherine Sheehan (reviewer) Bookstore: New Titles from AD Books Reflection: All Souls Day and a Christian response to bereavement - Fr Dennis W. Byrnes PP

STICKY THE DOG
by Robert Wheeler
(St Andrew's Sopher Care Group Inc, 2001, 95pp, $12.95. Available from AD Books)

Sticky the Dog is a collection of children's stories written by Uniting Church Minister, Robert Wheeler. The stories are not only entertaining but combine the Gospel messages with interesting facts and amusing anecdotes.

The stories are based around the adventures and mishaps of a brown kelpie named Sticky, who was so-named after a painful encounter with a beehive. Sticky lives on a farm in rural Victoria where he gets up to all kind of mischief.

It is refreshing to read a children's book which has an unmistakably Australian flavour, the stories being set on a typical Australian farm and involving many places and animals characteristic of Australia. Reading the stories is also made more enjoyable by the illustrations which accompany them.

The lessons that are learnt from Sticky's experiences are cleverly linked to the lessons that Jesus gives in the Gospels. The messages or morals of the stories centre around teaching children about living a Christian life. Some of the themes are honesty, being an example to others and thinking of others first.

Stories about animals are often so appealing to children that it is an effective way to introduce them to the Gospel message. In this book, farm life and everyday situations become interesting and can teach us Christian values in the process.

Catherine Sheehan is a Melbourne Catholic writer.

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 14 No 10 (November 2001), p. 18