Clang and the Party

By Lorna Louise Gray

It is summer in the sleepy village of Much Moaning. Clang the tufty-pawed dog and his pals, Soot the Greyhound, Twinkle the Great Dane and Bodger the King-size Poodle, are planning a party at Silly Sausage Cottage. It is to be DOGS-ONLY! No humans will be allowed to join in the fun. To have the cottage empty for the party, Clang needs the three humans he lives with to go to Lord Actually's Summer Ball, but there is a HUGE problem! Lady Esme Her Silliness, Lady Lavinia Her Unusualness and Lady Wallopy Thump have no new dresses to wear. Lady Wallopy Thump won’t go to the party in an old dress. Clang twitches his ears, whirrs his tail and thinks up what seems to be a wonderful plan to make the ladies leave the cottage. With Clang planning everything, what could possibly go wrong?! Join Clang and his pals on a hilarious party adventure that you won’t forget!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Sep 30, 2021
• ISBN: 9781788483094

Lorna Louise Gray

Lorna Louise Gray was an infant school teacher for many years. During this time, Lorna completed an interdisciplinary PhD., researching how teachers manage bereaved children. In contrast to academic work, Lorna discovered her love of writing for children. Clang and his adventures became a part of the life she shared with her late husband, Bill, a university professor. The antics of rescued sighthounds, Patsy and Hamish, inspire some of Lorna’s writing. Lorna lives in Chichester and enjoys walking the dogs in the Sussex woods when she isn’t writing or trying to play the piano!

Book preview

About the Author

Lorna Louise Gray was an infants’ school teacher in West Sussex for many years, during which time she completed her PhD. As a contrast to academic work and encouraged by her husband Bill, she began writing about the adventures of Clang. In 2011, Bill and Lorna rescued two sighthounds. The antics of Patsy Greyhound and Hamish Lurcher further inspired some of the writing. She lives in Chichester and enjoys walking the dogs in the Sussex woods when she isn’t writing, baking or trying to play the piano!

Dedication

For my darling husband and soul-mate, Bill, whose love and encouragement inspired me to write.

Copyright Information ©

Lorna Louise Gray (2021)

The right of Lorna Louise Gray to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781788483087 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781788483094 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published (2021)

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd

25 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5LQ

Acknowledgement

I would like to thank Helen Corner-Bryant and Kathryn Price of Cornerstones Literacy Consultancy for sending my original manuscript to Antonia Parkin, many years ago. Thank you, Antonia, for excellent comments which helped shape my current writing.

I also acknowledge Simon Goodway for illustrations.

Thank you to my dear husband, Professor Bill Gray, for always believing in me and loving Clang as much as I did.

Thank you to my lovely daughter, Rosanna, for patiently listening to my rewrites and keeping me calm! Also to dear Jonathan and Rebecca, my super-supportive niece Helen, and my good friend, Rosemary, for their encouragement.

Last but not least, thank you to the many children I have taught and laughed with. I loved reading stories with you!

Chapter One

The Dress Shop

Buzz, flap, quack, snore…WALLOP! THUMP! OUCH!

It was a hazy summer’s day in the sleepy village of Much Moaning. Bees buzzed and flowers opened to say hello. Down Vicarage Lane, splishy-splashy quacky ducks flapped their wings on the busy duck pond.

In Silly Sausage Cottage, Lady Wallopy Thump (Wallopy to her family) was getting