Lucy the Farm Dog
Peta James (Dear Jo) & Maia Batumashvili
Category: Children's Picture Book
Hardcover | 40 pages | 979-8-90115-047-4
Trim Size: 8.5” H x 10.3” W
Publication Date: June 2th 2026
Publisher: Starfish Bay® Publishing
Genre: Animal Fiction / Humorous Fiction
Reading Level: Grade 1-2
Interest Level: Grades PreK-3
Guided Reading Level: J
Lexile® Measure: 420L
Accelerated Reader® Level/Poin: 2.2/0.5

Lucy the sheep dog isn’t very good at herding sheep. How can she help Farmer Pete?

Farmer Pete needs a sheep dog, and Lucy is the perfect dog for the job… or so he thinks. But when the sheep butt and stamp and run, Lucy realizes she’s not much of a sheep dog after all. 
How will Lucy ever help Farmer Pete if she can’t herd sheep? 
If only all these chickens would stop clucking and getting underfoot…
Stylized illustrations create texture and movement, working to weave a vivid world for readers to explore. 

Peta James grew up in rural Australia, and as a child her friends were the family cows, dogs, cats, and chickens. Now that she’s (sort of) an adult, she writes stories about animals and their adventures. Peta can’t go for a walk without stopping to say hello to every dog and cat she meets—because animals are people too! Lucy the Farm Dog is Peta’s first children’s book.

Maia Batumashvili was born in Tiblisi, Georgia, in 1978. From a young age, Maia has loved to draw and is inspired by the children’s books and cartoons she grew up with. After graduating from two art institutes, Maia worked on an animation project before finally realizing her dream of illustrating children’s books. When Maia is not creating imaginative worlds, she enjoys spending time with her three beautiful children and her dog, Tayo.

Key Features:
  • A story about overcoming obstacles and playing to your strengths! 
  • A fun farm romp unfolding with excitement and emotion. 
  • Distinctive and charming characters and backgrounds work expertly with the action to carry the reader along through the story. 
Themes:
  • Finding your unique strengths
  • Perseverance and trying again
  • Self-discovery and identity
  • Being true to yourself
  • Problem-solving
  • Courage in the face of challenges
  • Success comes in unexpected forms
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