When a big black dog appears outside the Hope family's home each member hides away scared. Feeding on their the black dog gets bigger and bigger. Only Small, the yongest Hope, has the courage to face the Black Dog and shows no fear.

Levi Pinfold has worked as an author and illustrator since graduating from University College Falmouth. He paints with watercolour and gouache, creating imagery from imagination and memory. His debut book, The Django, won a Booktrust Early Years Award. Michael Foreman described it as, "A virtuoso display of real drawing."