Andrew Walker’s The Dog on the Log with His Friend Mr. Frog is a delightful new picture book that blends humour and heart with important life lessons. The book is available to order from all good bookshops, including: Amazon, Waterstones, and Bookshop.org.
Written by BAFTA-winning video game developer Andrew Walker, this story of Scruffy the dog and his loyal friend Mr. Frog is destined to become a family favourite.
In this Q&A, Andrew opens up about his creative process and the role of ‘dad jokes’ in crafting this unforgettable tale.
The Dog on a Log with His Friend Mr. Frog is a book about kindness, compassion, and second chances. What inspired you to write this story?
The book was Inspired by my love of all things silly, dogs, and sharing funny moments with my children, I wanted to create a story that blends laughter with heartfelt lessons. Fun and humour are powerful ways to connect, and this book celebrates kindness, compassion, and the joy of giving second chances in a light-hearted, memorable way
Your day job has seen you have an incredible career in video game development, even earning a BAFTA. What was it that led you to want to write a children’s book?
Writing a children’s book has always been a bucket list dream for me. I live for creative adventures, and while I’ve been fortunate to build worlds in video games, books offer a unique kind of magic—sparking imaginations in ways even games can’t. This book is about creating lasting memories, both for readers and for my family.
How long was the process from start to finish?
The process took longer than you might think!
From the initial designs and draft to the final coloured illustrations and polished copy, it spanned about four months. After that, collaborating with Tiny Tree for final edits and layouts added another month. Altogether. After publishing and marketing the whole process will have taken around a year.
They say opposites attract and Scruffy and Mr Frog are certainly opposites. What do you think brings them together?
In short—farts! They’re the ultimate icebreaker.
Joking aside, it’s really about accepting someone for who they are. Despite their differences, Scruffy and Mr. Frog find connection through kindness, understanding, and shared moments of fun. Their bond shows how opposites can complement each other beautifully, creating a friendship built on mutual respect and laughter.
How important do you think balancing humour and important life lessons in a book like this?
Balancing humour with important life lessons is crucial. Humour creates memorable moments and draws readers in, but it’s the life lessons that leave a lasting impact.
By pairing silly, light-hearted moments with meaningful messages, the story becomes both entertaining and thought-provoking, fostering deeper connections between the reader and their child while keeping the key themes front and centre.
The book is also full of silly ‘dad jokes’. Do you consider yourself a dad joke connoisseur?
Absolutely! I proudly consider myself a Jedi of dad jokes—wielding groan-worthy humour like a lightsabre.
Life’s too short not to laugh, and without dad humour (and dogs), things would be far less fun. Filling the book with silly jokes (even visual) felt natural.
Without spoiling too much, do you have a favourite part of the book?
It has to be the toilet humour elements. Yes. Those.
It’s not long now until the book launches. How excited are you for the book to come out?
I’m excited, but it’s a bit surreal—kind of like dodging a parking ticket at the last second and driving off, leaving the warden fuming.
It doesn’t feel completely real yet, but I’m thrilled to finally hold the book. As for celebrity status, my two dogs, Gizmo and Peso, remain totally unimpressed!
Finally, what’s one message or takeaway you hope people get from reading your book?
The message I hope readers take away is that kindness, compassion, and second chances have the power to create meaningful connections. And that, sometimes, the simplest moments—whether shared with a friend or through a silly laugh—are the ones that truly make life rich.
It’s all about embracing each other, no matter our differences.
The Dog on the Log and His Friend Mr. Frog is written by Andrew Walker and illustrated by Kantarat Ulhaka. Available to order from all good bookshops, including: Amazon, Waterstones, and Bookshop.org.
