Tilley, a black lab, is born with a tail only true hockey fans could love, and is welcomed into the world of hockey, full of people who accept her for being unique.
Tilley’s Tail was written by Shannon Melanson and illustrated by Danelle Vautour.
We enter the story comforted by the gentle language describing the atmosphere of the tree farm where Tilley is born.
“On the outskirts of a small town, where winter was crisp and snow sparkled like diamonds, a tree farm stretched across the land.”
Trees crest over the horizon, softening into a dream-like haze, as we notice the farmer’s dog tucked into her bed of hay, warm, despite being surrounded by snow.
My heart melts at the pages of puppies smiling and playing together, the clean and lineless art style and colours assist in delivering the tonality of the story as soft and warm. That’s how you feel when reading this book.
There is hope when the pages open up with bright colours at the first sight of Tilley’s new life, and she finds acceptance from two hockey-loving girls and their family, who notice and love Tilley despite her differences, and her world opens up into something much larger than herself because her new family chose to learn how her tail made her unique.
Tilley’s Tail is a sweet and touching children’s book. The theme is direct in a way that you naturally see where the story will progress, which lends itself to an audience that wants to enjoy a heartwarming story about their two greatest loves—dogs and hockey.
The artwork, much like the writing, is clear in how it sets the tone of the page and delivers the plot. The lineless art style emphasizes the use of form and colour, which represent the atmosphere in the text through the use of bright or gloomy colour palettes.
The message of taking a chance on someone who is different and loving them regardless of those differences is an important message carried along in this book, which I find to be a necessary theme in our current climate, and is a valuable lesson for young readers to understand.
Tilley’s Tail will be published in November 2025. Pre-order your copy of Tilley’s Tail here.
Images and text copyright of Monster House Publishing, Shannon Melanson (text), and Danelle Vautour (images).
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Shannon Melanson
Shannon Melanson is a teacher and proud sports mom living in Atlantic Canada. When she’s not at the rink or on the field, she enjoys painting, reading, hiking, and whisking her family away on spontaneous adventures.
Danelle Vautour
Danelle Vautour is an Acadian illustrator and graphic designer. She studied at both UNB and NBCCD to receive a Bachelor’s of Applied Arts degree, and spent her fifth year of study completing a graphic design diploma at the craft college. Vautour was born and raised in Saint-Charles, New Brunswick, a small rural community near the ocean, and now lives in Fredericton. In her free time, she loves trying to learn new artistic mediums, such as embroidery and painting.
