Another reason this book was a breath of fresh air there was absolutely no utterance of any ugly political divisiness. This is the problem of how cruel people can be to animals and that there are charities struggling for funds to help these animals. I don't know why I hadn't heard of them before reading this book, but you better bet I'm going to keep up with it now. By his own admission they made an odd couple: “We were an unusual sight; a big, bearded tattooed bloke on a bike, with a kitten sitting on his shoulder like Long John Silver’s parrot.

She was the first UK recipient of The Sendak Fellowship in 2011, where she was invited to a residency with the master of children's books, Maurice Sendak. This was exactly what I needed to read, but at the same time, horrible, because I can't travel to any of these countries. He names the countries he travels through and says they're all beautiful and they have good alcohol but you don't get any sense of history or culture like a proper travelogue.This book is not a travel guide to countries - as some people seem to think - but the daily encounters Dean faced traveling with a kitty in tow. I enjoyed it a lot as I do love a good travelogue as it detailed finding the kitten, how biker Dean's life changed for the better, the people he met and places he visited, and how his following on Instagram and elsewhere led him to being able to help charities, especially animal ones. Nicholson’s road trip has taught him the truth of what a Syrian refugee once told him: “Be a blessing to others and you will be blessed”.

The love he has for Nala and our planet is showcased throughout his Instagram posts, Youtube videos and now his book.

I've got a whole new respect for the author after hearing about his passion for environmental and animal-related causes, and I'm so happy he's been able to make positive changes in the world around him. A heartwarming picture book based on the incredible true story of social media sensation and round-the-world-cyclist Dean Nicholson and his trusty cat companion, Nala.

As the next generation, they will be the ones to continue to care for our planet and the animals on it.Dean and Nala (the cat) become social media darlings, with hundreds of thousands of followers, and Dean becomes a source of inspiration for many, using his status to raise funds to protect animals and nature. I was holding my breath during the tense bits and cheering the two of them on every step/turn of the pedal/ train/bus ride/or lifts with friendly people they met on the way. Come down the travelators, exit Sainsbury's, turn right and follow the pedestrianised walkway to Crown Walk and turn right - and Coles will be right in front of you. I’m also learning a lot of important lessons, not just about our planet and the people who live on it, but also about myself. The writing is more like people you just met at a hostel telling you about their travels after a few pints.

Dean Nicholson set off from his hometown of Dunbar, Scotland, in September 2018 to cycle around the globe. His biggest issues are when he needs to wait around in a scenic villa for several weeks to get the proper immunizations for his cat or recover from his latest injury that was made worse by him not listening to any doctor's instructions. From the moment we met, mine and Nala’s journey has been shared with the world through videos and photographs.

Dean also supports many worldwide causes that do good for the world, most notably abandoned and abused animals and the environment. What he didn’t expect was that he would meet a cat who would change his life as much as he changed hers.