• Age: 3 to 6
• Grade: k

Adrian Raeside has created a magical tale of adventure for pet lovers of all ages in The Rainbow Bridge. Using his gift for creating spunky characters, Raeside has created a valuable fable for anyone who cherishes the companionship of a family pet.

Seven-year-old Rick and his beloved dog Koko are inseparable. They cavort in the swimming hole, chase each other through the fields, play fetch and wrestle. But their relationship changes as Koko grows old and his health declines.

With Koko's passing, Rick is devastated. But then one night, he is woken by Buster, a flatulent but well-intentioned messenger dog, who suddenly appears at the boy's bedside. Buster ferries Rick to a magical paradise for pets where Rick is reunited with Koko; it fills Rick's heart with joy. It's a place where cats burrow through fields of catnip, no couch is off-limits to dogs and frisbees are flung endlessly. This mysterious adventure is truly a holiday miracle!

Adrian Raeside captures the special bond between humans and their pets, and with marvellous illustrations, brings a gentle humour to a story that will resonate with children and pet lovers of all ages.

Adrian Raeside was born 1957 in Dunedin, New Zealand. At the age of 15 he moved with his parents to England then on to Canada, where he worked at various jobs from loading grain ships in Thunder Bay, to surveying on the West Coast. Editorial cartoonist for the Victoria Times Colonist for 32 years, Raeside's editorial cartoons appear in over 200 newspapers and magazines worldwide, from the Los Angeles Times, to Newsweek Japan.

In 1988, Raeside began producing animated editorial cartoons for the CBC Journal, going on to create, direct and produce dozens of animated shows for Turner Broadcasting and Children's Television Workshop - adapting Jim Henson Muppet characters for animation.

Raeside is the author of over a dozen books. He lives in Whistler, BC.

Adrian Raeside's profile page

The Rainbow Bridge: A Visit to Pet Paradise

Cartoonist Raeside will strike a chord with all pet lovers in this warm-hearted fable depicting a magical paradise where deceased pets reunite with their loving owners when they eventually die. Young Rick is despondent over the death of his beloved dog, Koko. Later a strange and flatulent old yellow Lab suddenly appears under Rick’s bed. Together they fly off to an enchanted land where deceased pets live happily forever. Rick and Koko joyfully reunite until Koko tells Rick that since he has not died yet, he must return home by riding again on that smelly old Lab, Buster. Sadly, Rick leaves only to find an adorable little surprise waiting for him at home and it’s named Buster! The light-hearted cartoon art and comical asides buoyantly support this reassuring tale.

Raeside is the long-time editorial cartoonist for the Victoria Times-Colonist.

The Rainbow Bridge: A Visit to Pet Paradise

Rick and his dog Koko are inseparable and when Koko grows old and dies Rick is devastated. One night he is visited by Buster, a messenger dog who flies Rick to a magical paradise where faithful pets of all kinds await to be reunited with their human companions.