Behind the bark
A Real Dog. A Real Family.A Whole Lot of “No-No!”
No-No-Bad-Dog! began with one spirited Wire Hair Fox Terrier and a family collection of misadventures too funny to forget. Meet the dog, author, and illustrator who turned everyday chaos into a colorful storybook world.
Meet the star
The dog who is always helping
On the page, he is No-No-Bad-Dog. His humans first tried calling him Raleigh, and the Little One has called him Wallace. In real life, Heather calls the Wire Hair Fox Terrier who inspired him Wally. Whatever the name, he is certain he is helpful: crumb collector, plate cleaner, bell ringer, snack negotiator, and expert trainer of humans. He loves his family fiercely, sees every rule as a suggestion, and tells each misadventure with complete confidence. Is he mischievous? Possibly. Is he sorry? That remains a mystery.
His most sparkling mistake yet
Behind the bark
One shiny necklace. One irresistible idea.
No-No-Bad-Dog! first introduces the wildly lovable humans No-No has decided to train. Then a puppy, a good necklace, a distracted human, and one terrible—but irresistible—idea set The Great Pearl Heist in motion.
About the book
“Well... if it smells like a treat...”
Told by No-No himself, the story follows his fearless logic as a real family mishap becomes a laugh-out-loud tale about love, patience, and life with a dog who never doubts his own innocence. Written by Heather Toolin, illustrated by Ann Huey, and published by Treaty Oak Publishers in Austin, Texas, it is the beginning of a series inspired by things that really happened.
About the book
Heather finds the story in real life
Every adventure starts with something that really happened.
Heather Toolin is a native Texan and a University of Texas at Austin graduate with a degree in interior design. For decades, she has built a creative career around color, personality, close observation, and the details that make a place feel personal. That same eye—and a home full of real-life dog comedy—inspired her to write No-No-Bad-Dog! The stories grew from the escapades of Wally, her beloved Wire Hair Fox Terrier (or “Terrorist,” as Heather affectionately calls him), and the family moments too funny not to share. When she is not designing or writing, Heather enjoys trying new recipes, tending her garden, and spending time with her children and Wally.
The illustrator
Ann brings the mischief to life
Colorful characters. And so much humor.
Ann Huey is an artist and native of Beaumont in Southeast Texas—a place she remembers for lush green growth, colorful characters, and plenty of humor. She and her husband, Martin, a drummer, have spent many years pursuing their arts in Lancaster in southern Dallas County, surrounded by art, cats, and the everyday comedy that keeps life interesting. Ann loves dogs, too, and brings that affection to No-No’s expressive face, flying ears, and gloriously questionable decisions. Her playful linework, bright watercolor palette, and tiny visual jokes turn the Toolin family’s true stories into a lively illustrated world children can explore again and again.
Ready for the heist?
Bring No-No-Home.
Meet No-No, a Wire Hair Fox Terrier who "helps" with dirty plates, carpets, shoes — and one very important pearl necklace. His first book turns real family trouble into a mischievous read-aloud.
