Merevale Creek FarmHome of Zoe the Rottweiler
The Gentle Guardian · Book 1 lead

Big heart. Quiet courage.
One very misunderstood Rottweiler.

Zoe is a lean, athletic Rottweiler with a black coat, warm tan markings, and a deep violet-plum collar she never takes off. When she arrives at Merevale Creek Farm, every animal sees a big, scary dog. She never argues with them. She just shows up, again and again, until they can't help but change their minds.

🐾 Athletic, watchful, calm 🏮 Deep violet-plum collar, always 📖 Book 1 of 4
Zoe the Rottweiler, illustrated portrait
Zoe and the Great Summer Jubilee

Her Story

Every animal on the farm has already made up their mind about Rottweilers. Across twelve chapters, each anchored to a retold Aesop fable, and one storm-struck Jubilee, Zoe gets one quiet chance after another to change it. She never wins anyone over with a speech. She wins them over by being there when it matters.

Book 1 is also where the ladybird hunt begins, one ladybird hidden in Chapter One, two in Chapter Two, all the way up to twelve in Chapter Twelve. Seventy-eight in total, waiting in the illustrations around Zoe's story.

"One of the most quietly brilliant children's books I've read in years. It's warm, funny, and full of real heart."

Amanda Maryle, ARC reviewer
Zoe with Mayo the horse, Mo the goat, Mabel the cow and Margot the hen, bunting flying over Merevale Creek Farm

Hunt Her Ladybirds

Try the ladybird hunt for yourself before the book arrives.

Open the Hunt →

Meet the Rest of the Farm

Fifteen named characters, and a Blue Butterfly who never speaks.

See the Full Cast →