It害羞草研究所檚 not often that you come across a book that害羞草研究所檚 perfect for the whole family, pets included, but Cloverdale author and illustrator Lui D害羞草研究所橝mato might have just found the perfect balance. His book, Move Over Rover!, is a light-hearted family read that follows the true story of Cosmo (the book害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所楻over害羞草研究所�), as he is forced to re-evalate his position in the family after Lui and his wife Sophia have their first child.
Cosmo害羞草研究所檚 life changed quite a bit when the D害羞草研究所橝matos brought home baby Nicolas. Cosmo went from being the centre of attention to having to move over to make room for the baby, and then he had to move over again when the D害羞草研究所橝matos害羞草研究所� second son Marco was born.
Cosmo, up until that point, had been a main focus for family. 害羞草研究所淓very time we came visiting [family], we had to bring him,害羞草研究所� said Sophia. 害羞草研究所淚t was, 害羞草研究所楧on害羞草研究所檛 forget Cosmo.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟
害羞草研究所淎nd then of course, after the babies came, it was 害羞草研究所極kay, Cosmo, you have to stay home. We害羞草研究所檒l be right back,害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 she said.
Cosmo is patient 害羞草研究所� as all dogs with young children in the family must be 害羞草研究所� kind, and protective of the newest additions to the D害羞草研究所橝mato family.
Now that Nicolas and Marco are older (8 and 5-years-old, respectively), they take care of Cosmo, too.
Lui was inspired to write Cosmo害羞草研究所檚 story when he glanced in the rearview mirror one day and saw Cosmo sandwiched between Nicolas and Marco害羞草研究所檚 car seats.
害羞草研究所淸Cosmo] used to go from window to window and he害羞草研究所檇 lay down in the backseat, he ruled the backseat,害羞草研究所� said Lui. That day, seeing Cosmo sitting 害羞草研究所渟quished害羞草研究所� between the car seats, Lui was struck with an idea.
That idea would become the book害羞草研究所檚 cover.
Sophia said that after that, it wasn害羞草研究所檛 unusual to see Lui in the home office, writing or illustrating. 害羞草研究所淗e said, 害羞草研究所楨ven if I just put something together for the kids,害羞草研究所� you know, something for them to have and say, 害羞草研究所楧ad made this.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟
害羞草研究所淚 honestly didn害羞草研究所檛 think much of it, I thought he was just passing some time, because he likes to draw,害羞草研究所� she said.
But soon enough Lui emerged from the office with a completed manuscript in one hand and a complete stack of illustrations in the other. They hired an editor, Wendy Dewar Hughes, and she put the manuscript and the illustrations together and suggested that Lui consider self-publishing his book.
Move Over Rover! is now available online through Amazon, in two Chapters locations (Langley and Granville at Broadway) and Toy Traders. Lui has also since been featured on Breakfast Television, and in Modern Dog Magazine.
害羞草研究所淚t is a kids book, but I like to call it a family book,害羞草研究所� explains Lui, 害羞草研究所渂ecause it has to do with the entire family, including the family pet.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淪o many people have pets before they have babies, and believe it or not, they end up giving [the pets] away. Because they害羞草研究所檙e a lot of work.害羞草研究所�
At that, Lui walked over to the back door of the D害羞草研究所橝matos害羞草研究所� family kitchen, to let Cosmo in from the backyard. (At this point in the interview, Cosmo had been let out and in once before.)
Sophia shared a story of family members who were faced with that very same, difficult choice, and who eventually decided to give away their family pet. 害羞草研究所淚t can be a struggle,害羞草研究所� she said.
害羞草研究所淵ou have to get real with it,害羞草研究所� agreed Lui, sighing as Cosmo walked back across the kitchen and sat, once more, in front of the back door in a silent bid to be let into the backyard.
Second book in the works
Lui, who works in construction, has been a City of Vancouver employee for almost 30 years now and he plans to retire in a few years. Then he害羞草研究所檒l focus on his next book, which he already has plans for.
The process of creating Move Over Rover! was not easy, explained D害羞草研究所橝mato, and it was time consuming, especially the illustration.
The book includes 36 original, full-colour illustrations. The challenge came with keeping the characters and colouring consistent from page to page, very detail-oriented work.
When Lui has more time on his hands after he retires, he害羞草研究所檒l dig in to his next story.
Although Lui asked the Reporter to remain mum on the title of his next project, we can reveal that it will be a story about facing your fears, and resassuring kids that it害羞草研究所檚 okay to be afraid. 害羞草研究所淚 want to show that it害羞草研究所檚 okay to have a fear,害羞草研究所� said Lui. 害羞草研究所淵ou know, even Superman is afraid sometimes.害羞草研究所�
Copies of Move Over Rover are available on or at Chapters at 20015 Langley By-Pass.
