''Selby's Secret'' is the first children's novel in the

Selby series ''Selby'' is a self titled novel series written by Australian author Duncan Ball and illustrated by Allan Stomann or M.K. Brown. The books chronicle the adventures of the eponymous talking dog Selby, together with his owners Dr and Mrs Trifle. S ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

writer A writer is a person who uses written words in different writing styles and techniques to communicate ideas. Writers produce different forms of literary art and creative writing such as novels, short stories, books, poetry, travelogues, p ...

Duncan Ball Duncan Ball (born February 1941) is an American-born Australian author who has written the children's series ''Selby'' (about a talking dog named Selby who tries to keep his secret away from his owners) and '' Emily Eyefinger'' (about a girl wh ...

, and was first published in 1985. It was reissued in 2004.

Plot summary

Selby is the only talking dog in Australia – perhaps in the world. He longs to chat with his owners but fears loses his status as their beloved pet. Keeping his secret is not easy.

Awards and nominations

Years after publication, the book won its first award, the 1987

Primary Primary or primaries may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music Groups and labels * Primary (band), from Australia * Primary (musician), hip hop musician and record producer from South Korea * Primary Music, Israeli record label Works * ...

section in the Waybra Award. It also came fourth place in the 1987 Primary section of th
Koala Awards
The book was also shortlisted many other awards including the 199
Yabba Awards
for young readers. It has been shortlisted for the Koala Awards for 1988-1991 as well as 1996, 1999, and 2000. In 2001 it was finally voted into the Koala Awards’ Hall of Fame.

Notes

Selby Series 1985 Australian novels 1985 children's books Australian children's novels Children's fantasy novels Children's novels about dogs Fiction about talking animals {{1980s-child-novel-stub