Former Machynlleth writer and illustrator, Shoo Rayner has released his latest children’s book, Walker.

All Walker wants is a dog, but his mother is allergic to fur.

So he decides to set up his own business walking everyone else’s.

This works better than he could have imagined when he finds he can talk to the dogs and understand what they say to him.

The dogs lead him to a terrible puppy farm hidden in the wood by Arlington Wherewithall, a famous TV star and owner of a pet food company, the richest man in the area. He knows nobody will believe him, so it is down to Walker and the dogs to stop the farm and save the puppies.

This appealing doggy adventure story for young readers is full of humour, friendship, magic, mystery and danger, all illustrated with Shoo’s characteristic energetic drawings.

Shoo began his career as an illustrator in a garden shed near Machynlleth.

He drew for Michael Morpurgo and Rose Impey, but editors kept encouraging him to write.

Many years, and over 175 books later, Shoo, well known for his many fast-paced stories, has been building a worldwide following for his award-winning ’How to draw’ videos for YouTube.

Shoo now lives in the Forest of Dean with his wife and three cats.

He is the author and illustrator of the Dragon Gold trilogy published by Firefly Press, which comprises: Dragon Gold (2014), Dragon White (2015) and Dragon Red (2017).

See this week’s south papers for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition now