Bonder's Dogabet is a hit and First in Show
By Bruce Mason, Gabriola Sounder
Monday, July 2 2007

It is fitting that an illustrator would take a first glance at her future dog in a photograph.

Also, that she would produce a best-selling book about them - her eighth children's book - dedicated, in part: "...to all the dogs in my life, past and present. Without them I wouldn't know the meaning of devotion."

Dianna Bonder's latest book, Dogabet, is a payback of sorts - she is donating part of her royalties to Noah's Wish (USA) - Animal Disaster Rescue, involved with the relief effort following Hurricane Katrina and, Big Heart Rescue Society (Canada) - Dog Rescue Society, dedicated to improving the lives of homeless, abused, or neglected pets, closer to home.

That's good news for dogs and dog lovers all over the continent. In just two months the hard cover edition has almost sold out and a soft cover version will be printed.

The Sounder stopped by her studio for a sneak preview of the original illustrations which will be on exhibit - and for sale, along with the cover and autographed copies of her books - at Artworks, July 5th to 11th.

I hoped to equal the photograph taken last year of Dianna reading to her daughter Ekko (on her website: www.diannabonder.ca), by including Sara, the Bull Mastiff that the Bonders adopted, after being sent a photo from the Big Heart Rescue Society in Vancouver.

"They knew we were looking for a big dog after our aged Greyhound died and I headed straight to the ferry after seeing her picture," said Bonder, her new book in hand and calling Sara, over the barking of a Pomeranian and a Chihuahua from inside the house.

Now as we all know, Bull Mastiffs are legendary for their loyalty, but there was also a sense of ownership as Sara got comfy at Dianna's feet - just as she did during the making of the book - keen to hear the latest from donunt eating Dachshunds, Huskies with horns, Irish Wolfhounds, interpreting ideograms, and the like.

Curiously, Bull Mastiffs never made the Dogabet cut. B is reserved for: British Bulldogs balancing blue butterflies, and M is taken by Many Mischievous Mutts making marvelous mud muffins.

Neither did Pomeranians, for that matter. Conspicuously absent, despite being within easy ear range, during the interview. In Dogabet, P is the domain of: Perky pink Pugs playing pink pianos perfectly.

However, the third of Bonder's dogs is there, front and centre: Chubby Chihuahuas cheerfully chewing chocolate chip cookies. Both are irresistible.

A few years ago, after writing and illustrating The Accidental Alphabet, Bonder began thinking of ideas for another alphabet book.

"Having lived with dogs my entire life I felt that my canine friends would make for great material. That was the inspiration," she recalled.

"As the idea transformed from just words on paper to actual illustrations and a story, I started to get excited that I might be able to do something more than just write an alphabet book for children; to be able to help the very creatures which were my subjects."

Like some many of us, during Hurricane Katrina, Dianna saw the tragic numbers of abandoned animals and wanted to do something.

She contacted Noah's Wish Foundation, the animal rescue agency instrumental in rescuing an inestimable number of animals, setting up shelters and temporary veterinary stations and re uniting thousands of owners with their beloved pets.

Bonder also decided to support Big Heart Dog Rescue, a Canadian group specializing in the rescue, care, rehabilitation and adoption of dogs, including Sara.

As always, Bonder's illustrations are no one trick ponies (or Pomeranians).

Sure, all 26 pages are beautifully drawn and exquisitely painted. But each subject also has a distinct personality and there is lots happening, along with myriad details that keep you coming back and discovering more.

In this case of Dogabet there is an added feature: a bone hidden on each page, containing a letter, which when strung together spell out a hidden message. Something you can do, while enjoying the 26 pieces of original art.

It's tough to pick a favourite from Dapper Lhasa Apsos licking licorice lollipops, Jack Russells with jack o'lanterns, or Otterhounds playing orange oaken oboes.

As a child, Dianna began drawing fabulous, oddball characters and faraway places, wishing they were real. After studying fine arts and fashion and book illustration in Toronto, she worked as a commercial artist in Vancouver, before her career in creating children's literature went into high gear in 2001.

That's when 40,000 copies of her first book, the classic and perennially popular "Pacific Alphabet" (written by Margriet Ruus) were distributed to every kindergarten in the province through a BC-government grant.

Bonder, husband Lee, their three cats and dogs and daughter Ekko arrived on Gabriola in 2005, wanting to re-discover all the things that live underneath a rock as opposed to a mall, to experience eagles and deer on a daily basis.

Bonder herself had been inspired by the beauty she found in Alice in Wonderland, James and the Giant Peach, and the quirky words and worlds of Shel Silverstein and Dr. Suess.

Her motto is "Dreaming Is Believing"... if you can dream it... it can be."

"We always hear that seeing is believing, but in my mind, dreaming is believing," she explained. "When I teach workshops to kids, I tell them that the great thing about being an artist and writer is that you can write or draw the impossible.

"Nowhere else in this world can you make things happen like that, other than visually, or in words," she added.

"Kid's imaginations are superior to adults, they are so accepting and anything goes," Bonder continued.

That's something to keep in mind and well worth trying to recapture while enjoying Dianna's work. Take the kids, especially the one inside you.

The same warning applies to her previous exhibit. "It's not thought-provoking, not meant to be. Your readers should simply enjoy it, rather than take it too seriously. It's silly, odd and very funny. Kids love it."

Personally I favour the first letter illustrated in Dogabet: Aristocratic Afghan Hound attending abstract art auctions.

Reminds me of upstairs at Artworks on Thursday night openings.

Dogabet, a solo exhibit of the latest published work of our own Dianna Bonder is at Artworks, July 5th to 11th. Tell' em Sara sent you.

http://www.soundernews.com/fullstory/EElFupFVElYfEoIbhi.shtml

To buy your very own Dogabet Book go to:

http://diannabonder.com/pages/books/books.php?b=08