ItB次元官网网址檚 not often that you come across a book thatB次元官网网址檚 perfect for the whole family, pets included, but Cloverdale author and illustrator Lui DB次元官网网址橝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 bookB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址楻overB次元官网网址�), as he is forced to re-evalate his position in the family after Lui and his wife Sophia have their first child.
CosmoB次元官网网址檚 life changed quite a bit when the DB次元官网网址橝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 DB次元官网网址橝matosB次元官网网址� second son Marco was born.
Cosmo, up until that point, had been a main focus for family. B次元官网网址淓very time we came visiting [family], we had to bring him,B次元官网网址� said Sophia. B次元官网网址淚t was, B次元官网网址楧onB次元官网网址檛 forget Cosmo.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淎nd then of course, after the babies came, it was B次元官网网址極kay, Cosmo, you have to stay home. WeB次元官网网址檒l be right back,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� she said.
Cosmo is patient B次元官网网址� as all dogs with young children in the family must be B次元官网网址� kind, and protective of the newest additions to the DB次元官网网址橝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 CosmoB次元官网网址檚 story when he glanced in the rearview mirror one day and saw Cosmo sandwiched between Nicolas and MarcoB次元官网网址檚 car seats.
B次元官网网址淸Cosmo] used to go from window to window and heB次元官网网址檇 lay down in the backseat, he ruled the backseat,B次元官网网址� said Lui. That day, seeing Cosmo sitting B次元官网网址渟quishedB次元官网网址� between the car seats, Lui was struck with an idea.
That idea would become the bookB次元官网网址檚 cover.
Sophia said that after that, it wasnB次元官网网址檛 unusual to see Lui in the home office, writing or illustrating. B次元官网网址淗e said, B次元官网网址楨ven if I just put something together for the kids,B次元官网网址� you know, something for them to have and say, B次元官网网址楧ad made this.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚 honestly didnB次元官网网址檛 think much of it, I thought he was just passing some time, because he likes to draw,B次元官网网址� 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.
B次元官网网址淚t is a kids book, but I like to call it a family book,B次元官网网址� explains Lui, B次元官网网址渂ecause it has to do with the entire family, including the family pet.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淪o many people have pets before they have babies, and believe it or not, they end up giving [the pets] away. Because theyB次元官网网址檙e a lot of work.B次元官网网址�
At that, Lui walked over to the back door of the DB次元官网网址橝matosB次元官网网址� 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. B次元官网网址淚t can be a struggle,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淵ou have to get real with it,B次元官网网址� 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 heB次元官网网址檒l focus on his next book, which he already has plans for.
The process of creating Move Over Rover! was not easy, explained DB次元官网网址橝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, heB次元官网网址檒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 itB次元官网网址檚 okay to be afraid. B次元官网网址淚 want to show that itB次元官网网址檚 okay to have a fear,B次元官网网址� said Lui. B次元官网网址淵ou know, even Superman is afraid sometimes.B次元官网网址�
Copies of Move Over Rover are available on or at Chapters at 20015 Langley By-Pass.
