AWHIMSICAL TALE BY SOPHIA · ILLUSTRATED BY Marcella Roccasalva
Two New YorkiesAND THEEvil Banking Empire
Two brave little Yorkies become the unlikely heroes of their mom, Princess Emilia — a Transylvanian princess working across a dark river in the sinister Banking Empire.
Order on AmazonPrologue
Across a dark river from their home, the sinister Banking Empire kept its secrets. Three evil dragons guarded the gold. And two small dogs decided that someone had to rescue their mom.
From the Book
“Once upon a time in New York City,
Lived two little Yorkies and their mom, Emilia,
A Transylvanian princess from far… far away,
Across the oceans and seas too many,
A land of sunflowers, poppies, and wheat,
With fences of rust, covered in dust.Sage and Balto, the little New Yorkies
Owned the city streets of the Upper East Side
With hanging pink tongues and twinkling eyes,
They roamed Central Park and barked at the runners.”
From the Book
“Every day, mom disappeared for hours and hours.
The pups sighed and sat next to the door,
Falling asleep on the hard wooden floor.
They didn’t eat, though their food bowls were full,
And barely drank any water.Mom forgot the TV on CNBC for them …
But the stock prices were still mumble jumble
To the two four-legged Upper East Siders.
It was fun to watch for a few minutes…
Always up or down, green or red
To see people like mom barking at each other
Full of excitement and pointing at charts
For the publicly traded biscuits market.”
About the Book
The Story
Two New Yorkies and the Evil Banking Empire is a whimsical tale for children, Yorkie-loving grownups — and even bankers. Set in New York, it follows two brave little Yorkies who become the unlikely heroes of their mom, Princess Emilia, a Transylvanian princess working across a dark river in the sinister Banking Empire.
Inside the empire, three evil dragons guard the secrets of how gold is made through shady tricks. Emilia, along with other good fairies, suffers under the weight of injustice and greed. But her loyal pups, missing their mom and tired of her long hours, hatch a plan to rescue her.
With their love and courage, they inspire Emilia to break free, follow her heart, and find a new path — one that helps people in need and supports the planet.
Praise
Reviewed by Kirkus
Kirkus Reviews has weighed in on Sage and Balto's adventure across the dark river. Read the full professional review to discover why this whimsical tale resonates with children, Yorkie lovers, and grownups alike.
“ The narrative is an ungainly mixture of an urban fable and an unexpectedly direct critique of corporate power and institutional corruption. (“The empire used an old banking trick, / After they borrowed at low interest rates, / They offered high-cost loans to those unassuming.”) ”Read the Kirkus review
Book Trailer
Watch the trailer
See the world of Princess Emilia, the Evil Banking Empire, and the two brave little Yorkies in motion.
A Look Inside
The world of the book
Scenes from Sage and Balto's New York — the Upper East Side, Central Park, and the dark river that separates them from the Banking Empire.
“A whimsical tale for children, Yorkie-loving grownups — and even bankers.”
— Pegasus Publishers
Illustrations
From the pages
Original drawings by Marcella Roccasalva, who lives and works in Milan.
Sage and Balto at home on the Upper East Side
Illustration by Marcella Roccasalva
Watching the publicly traded biscuits market on CNBC
Illustration by Marcella Roccasalva
The three evil dragons that guard the empire's gold
Illustration by Marcella Roccasalva
Across the dark river — the Banking Empire
Illustration by Marcella Roccasalva
Available now
The Paperback,
ready to order.
48 pages · paperback · published 30 April 2026 by Nightingale Books, an imprint of Pegasus Publishers.
ISBN 9781787884342 · Nightingale Books
Also available from Pegasus Publishers →