A high-spirited adventure starts in present-day London, where a small boy kicks the rogue soccer ball that hit him on the head and is chased by the gang of kids to whom the ball belongs. Taking refuge in the National Gallery, the boy ends up among the Dutch masters, where the small dog from Van Eyck’s The Arnolfini Marriage slips off the canvas and joins him in a romp through the halls. The two climb into the frame of Vermeer’s A Young Woman Seated at a Virginal to return a sheet of music they found on the Gallery floor, then head out her door to explore the picturesque streets of seventeenth-century Delft. A detour down a dark alley—is that ever a good idea?—leads to a heart-stopping encounter with a butcher who is furious when boy and dog unlock the cage of impounded pooches that appeared to be the makings for his sausages. A wild and comical chase ends with justice prevailing in both past and present in Gregory Rogers’s witty, wordless tale. Varied perspectives enhance the detailed and masterful visual storytelling achieved through panels and full-page spreads. (Ages 6–10)

Escaping from a gang of bullies, a Boy slips into a grand old gallery - the perfect hiding place, full of mystery and treasures. Enchanted by the magic of painting and befriended by a mischievous dog, the Boy ventures into the world of a famous Vermeer painting - and he and his new friend are transported to Little Street, Delft in seventeenth century Holland. But the streets of Delft are a dangerous place for a dog, and the Boy has to use every ounce of his ingenuity to rescue his canine mate from an untimely fate on the butcher's block.

Young readers will enjoy spotting much-loved characters from the previous Boy Bear books in this triumph of visual storytelling.

Praise for the Boy Bear books includes:

'Rogers' joyful, intricate, funny illustrations reveal something new with each reading.' The Sunday Age

'Clearly a picture does tell a thousand words! Rogers has found a most delightful way to engage children in the art and craft of storytelling. Highly recommended to keep young readers engrossed for hours.' 4 Stars Junior Bookseller and Publisher

'The beauty of Rogers's books are in the minute detail of his illustrations, but also in the freedom his pictures give young minds to imagine and dream.' The Courier-Mail