This is a series of books by the late Harry Horse about a Grandfather who takes fantastical trips around the world with his pet pooch, Roo. First published in England in the late 1990’s, Peachtree Publishers picked up the series and republished them in the United States just within the last few years. And we can be glad that they did.
In each of these books we are told the story of Grandfather through letters that he writes to “My dear child” who is, of course, his grandchild. Grandfather apparently likes escaping England and the home of his children and grandchild in order to go on fun adventures. He has a pet dog, a female named Roo, who accompanies him on all his journeys and gets into trouble wherever she goes.
In The Last Gold Diggers, Grandfather and Roo make their way to Australia in search of Grandfather’s brother, Great-Uncle Vincent. Vincent left England years earlier to hunt for gold in the outback and they’ve only heard from him one time since. Grandfather misses his brother and wants to go and find him. He and Roo have some marvelous airplane adventures and keep My Dear Child updated on their journey by letters until they reach an area of the country where Grandfather is unable to send mail. At that point he begins his journal and keeps notes of his adventures with camels, in unending rain and in Gold Town itself. Very cute book.
In The Last Cowboys, Grandfather and Roo are off on an adventure to America. This time they are hunting for Roo’s (yes, the dog’s) grandfather who Roo believes to be a big film star in Hollywood. Roo accidentally leaves paw prints in Tom Cruise’s star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame. They go to a Bunny amusement park (a play off of Disneyland, no doubt) and then are off on a Greyhound Bus (full of greyhounds!) to meet the Cowboys. Roo, naturally, is appointed sheriff at one point. Another very cute book.
These books read very much as if a Grandfather is writing to their grandchild. There’s some flubbing of the truth, some exaggerations, some “annoyances” that suit the voice of Grandfather that are quite clever.
These are the two of “The Last” series that I have had the pleasure of perusing. However, there are two additional titles as well: The Last Polar Bears and The Last Castaways.
Definitely worth checking out for newer readers who still read with the voice of a child and yet want books to take them on fun adult-like adventures.
Carrie comes by her book obsession honestly, having descended from a long line of bibliophiles. She blogs about books regularly at Reading to Know.