Sparky had ran off and there was no time to look for him.

When the family returned two days later to discover their home was destroyed by the inferno, they were overjoyed to find Sparky had survived, albeit with a burnt nose and feet and singed whiskers.

It is believed the young pup took refuge underground.

The remarkable story of survival caught the attention of East Albury travel writer Craig Sheather, who penned a children's book Sparky the Wonder Puppy throughout this year.

Sheather said it was a positive story of bravery, kindness, hope and community spirit.

"The story almost wrote itself but I had to get it into a format to talk about grief and trauma," he said.

"I put a lot of work into it to make sure it was a positive tool for children; I worked with a child psychologist to assess it too.

"The book aims to provide a tool to enable children and parents to talk about grief and trauma associated with bushfires and provoke children to talk about their own feelings and experiences."

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Having previously written Best Walks of Victoria's High Country and Best Walks East of Melbourne, Sheather said it was his first foray into writing children's books.

Sheather said the coronavirus crisis had upended his plans this year.

"With travel restrictions, I had to diversify and I did some children's book writing courses," Sheather said.

"It's a totally different process.

"My kids, Lyra, 7, and Morrison, 4, gave me valuable and honest feedback too - sometimes brutal - because they are the target age for the book."

Published by Australian Geographic, Sparky the Wonder Puppy will be released during February.

It is illustrated by Eloise Short, who herself had experienced bushfires at her home in the Blue Mountains.

Sheather said a grant from Create NSW and sponsorship from Paul Joss and the Joss Family, ANZ Bank, The Tingledale Hall Committee and BTH Ladies Club and Craig Dent would allow him to give 700 books to schools throughout the Upper Murray early next year.

Sparky the Wonder Puppy will be available online via the Australian Geographic Shop.

Sheather is also co-writing another children's book, Heroes of Black Summer, which is based on the East Gippsland summer bushfire crisis.

It is due for release in May 2021.