Amazing Canines did not begin as a carefully planned book or a publishing idea. It began as conversations — the kind that happen naturally when a child feels free to imagine, question, and dream out loud.
My nephew, Ekaksh, has always had a vivid imagination. Like most children, he loves heroes, action, and adventure — but what struck me early on was his honesty. His stories weren’t about being perfect or invincible. They were about friendship, courage, fear, and doing the right thing even when it’s hard.
Seeing stories through a child’s eyes
When adults write stories for children, we often assume we know what they want. Working with Ekaksh reminded me how different a child’s perspective can be. Heroes don’t need to be flawless. Villains don’t need to be purely evil. What matters is emotion — how characters feel, react, and grow.
Ekaksh would describe scenes with complete sincerity. If something didn’t feel fair, he would say so. If a moment felt exciting, he would light up. Those reactions shaped Amazing Canines more than any deliberate planning ever could.
How Amazing Canines took shape
The idea of superhero dogs emerged almost playfully. Dogs, after all, already represent loyalty, bravery, and companionship. Giving them heroic roles felt natural. Characters evolved through conversation — not outlines. My role gradually became that of a listener and visual translator, turning Ekaksh’s ideas into illustrations and structure.
While Ekaksh imagined the adventures, I focused on shaping the world visually — bringing clarity, rhythm, and flow to the story. It became a true collaboration, where imagination led and craft followed.
What adults often forget about children’s stories
Children understand far more than we give them credit for. They recognize kindness. They sense fear. They respond deeply to honesty. Stories are one of the ways children explore emotions in a safe, meaningful way.
Comics, especially, offer a unique gateway. Visual storytelling lowers barriers and invites reluctant readers in. Amazing Canines was always meant to be welcoming — something a child could pick up and feel comfortable exploring at their own pace.
Why this book is special to me
Amazing Canines is special not because it exists as a published book, but because of how it came into being. It represents shared time, trust, and creativity. Watching Ekaksh see his ideas take shape has been quietly rewarding in ways that are hard to put into words.
Amazing Canines was co-created with my nephew Ekaksh Gupta, whose imagination and honesty constantly inspire me.
What I hope young readers take away
More than anything, I hope young readers see courage not as fearlessness, but as trying anyway. I hope they see teamwork as strength, and imagination as something to be protected and celebrated.
If Amazing Canines encourages a child to read, imagine, or tell their own story, then it has already done something meaningful.
Stories as bridges
Stories have a unique ability to bridge generations. They allow children and adults to meet in a shared space of imagination and empathy. Amazing Canines is one such bridge — and I’m grateful for the journey that led to it. Working on Amazing Canines alongside my larger mythology projects like Cosmic Ramayana has reminded me that stories can speak differently to different ages — but still come from the same place of imagination.
You can explore the book here: Amazing Canines