Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy facts for kids
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Author | Lynley Dodd |
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Country | New Zealand |
Language | English |
Series | Hairy Maclary |
Genre | Children's book |
Publisher | Mallinson Rendel Publishers Limited |
Publication date
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1983 |
ISBN | 978-0-14-330615-3 |
Followed by | Hairy Maclary's Bone |
Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy is a super popular children's book from 1983. It was written by Lynley Dodd from New Zealand. This book is the very first one in a series about a fun dog named Hairy Maclary. He often goes on adventures with his animal pals, like Schnitzel von Krumm, a dachshund. But watch out! His biggest enemy is a tough tomcat called Scarface Claw. This book is a classic bedtime story in New Zealand and Australia. Lynley Dodd's books, including this one, are often at the top of the bestsellers list for kids' books in New Zealand.
Meet the Dogs
In the story, you'll meet a group of unique dogs. They are introduced one by one, each with their own special look. Here are the main dog characters you'll find:
- Hairy Maclary: A small dog with a mixed background, but he looks a bit like a Scottish Terrier. He lives at number 60.
- Hercules Morse: A very large Mastiff dog. He lives at number 54.
- Bottomley Potts: A spotted Dalmatian. His home is at number 52.
- Muffin McLay: A fluffy Old English Sheepdog. You can find him at number 48.
- Bitzer Maloney: A speedy Whippet. He lives at number 36.
- Schnitzel Von Krumm: A long and low Dachshund. He lives at number 22.
The Story's Adventure
The book tells the exciting tale of these dogs. They all gather together and head off for an adventure at the park. But their fun trip takes a sudden turn! The story ends when they all get a big fright from a very scary cat named Scarface Claw.
A Worldwide Favorite
This book has been incredibly popular around the world. More than 11 million copies have been sold! It has also been translated into many different languages. You can find it in Mandarin, Korean, Japanese, Swedish, Russian, and even te reo Māori, the language of New Zealand.
The story has also been turned into a live stage play. This play has been performed at famous places like the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the Sydney Opera House.
Famous Readers
In 2019, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, read Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy on a TV show called Goodnight Kiwi. This special episode was shown on TVNZ 2 on Christmas Day.