A CHILDREN’S author from Kings Worthy has released a new book focussing on family, friends and adopting a dog.

Lesley York has completed her latest children’s book Emily's Shopping Surprise, with Winchester as its backdrop.

The story took the grandmother of seven around five months to complete and was released last month.

Lesley said: “There is a little girl shopping with her mum and dad in town, like little girls do, and she happens to spot this little bundle of fluff.

“They check with the vet and the RSCPA to see if it didn’t belong to anybody else.

“The parents say yes you can keep the dog, but you have to take it to training. She persuades her friend to get a puppy and then it is about their adventure leading up to doing an agility competition.”

Lesley added: “I thought I could make it for older children so they can read it for themselves or to their brothers and sisters.

“It is a nice gentle story for an older child but teaching children they can’t just take stuff that might belong to somebody else.”

The new book is a move away from Lesley’s previous tales which told the story of Henry the Naughty Raven.

She said: “It is a completely different story away from the ravens. It is about family and friends being together and enjoying each other’s company and children being together, owning a puppy and dogs and showing you can do things together without fighting.”

Lesley is a mother of two and has one great-grandchild. She is retired and enjoys being at home and writing more stories for children.