Meet Gunner
Gray Dog Gunner’s finished cover, with Gunner among meadow flowers.
The Kind Critter Collection · 01

Gray Dog Gunner

  • Peppy
  • Optimistic
  • Kind

Some days, the world doesn’t quite match your enthusiasm. Gunner keeps going anyway — with a spring in his step and kindness in his heart.

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Words by Skylar & Eddie Hoopingarner
Illustrations by Nadia Ronquillo

Take a peek inside

01A few pages together

A little hello. A very busy world.

A toad has something to say. A honeybee has work to do. A crab would rather be left alone. Each encounter brings a different personality into Gunner’s day.

Gunner asks the honeybee, ‘Hello there, friend! What’s the buzz today?’ The bee replies, ‘Work, work, work… There’s no time for play.’
A little hello. A very busy bee.From Gray Dog Gunner.
One more encounter: Gunner and the toad
Gunner asks, ‘Oops I’m sorry, are you OK?’ The toad replies, ‘No, I croaked today!’

A little surprise. A rather dramatic toad.From Gray Dog Gunner.

A question for after the story

Have you ever wanted to play when someone else was busy?

Original family drawings of Gunner and the critters he encounters, with early handwritten story ideas.
The personalities before the printed pages.

02Behind this tale

Before the pages, there were pencil lines.

Gunner’s story grew from a bedtime rhyme into a family table full of ideas. These are some of the original doodles — the personalities and encounters that helped bring his day to life.

Pull up a chair at our family table