We recently shared a special little video introducing the real dogs behind Chloe and Button, and it felt like the perfect moment to tell this part of the story more fully.
Before Chloe and Button became part of A Little Big World, they were inspired by two very loved real dogs: Snowy and Lilo.
If you have spent time with our stories, you may already have a sense of Chloe’s calm presence and Button’s bright little spark. Those qualities did not come from nowhere. They were shaped by watching two real dogs with their own personalities, habits, bond, and funny little ways of moving through the world.
Snowy and Lilo helped inspire the heart of Chloe and Button.
Snowy brought a quiet, independent kind of steadiness. She had that feeling of being gentle but self-possessed, with a soft watchfulness that could seem calm on the surface while still holding a lot of care underneath.
Lilo brought a different energy. She was playful, affectionate, cheeky, and full of life. She loved being close, loved having fun, and brought a sense of warmth and movement everywhere she went.
Together, they had a dynamic that felt instantly special. One was a little more measured. One was a little more bouncy. One carried a calm, older-sister feeling. One had an eager, bright-eyed curiosity. That contrast became an important part of how Chloe and Button began to take shape in our story world.
Chloe’s character was inspired by Snowy.
What mattered most was not just how Snowy looked, but how she felt to be around. She had a quiet presence. She could seem independent, even slightly majestic at times, but there was warmth there too. She was loving in a way that felt steady rather than showy.
That helped shape Chloe into the kind of character who can bring calm into a scene without needing to say very much. In many of our stories, Chloe is not the loudest presence in the room. She is often the one who notices, settles, waits, or understands something before anyone else does.
That gentle, grounded feeling came from real observation. It came from watching a dog whose care often showed itself in quiet ways.
Button’s character was inspired by Lilo.
Lilo had energy, closeness, affection, and plenty of cheeky little charm. She was playful and cuddly, eager to be near the people she loved, and full of the kind of small bright moments that make a dog feel instantly endearing.
That spirit found its way into Button.
Button often brings movement, curiosity, enthusiasm, and emotional openness into our stories. She is the one who hurries over, wonders what is happening, feels things quickly, and helps carry that soft sense of excitement that children often connect with so easily.
Lilo helped shape that side of Button: the warmth, the playfulness, and the sense that even a very small character can fill a scene with life.
One of the things we care about most in A Little Big World is making our stories feel gentle, emotionally clear, and real in the small ways that matter.
Even though Chloe and Button live in an illustrated story world, we never want them to feel hollow or generic. We want them to feel as though they have a true inner shape to them. Real-life inspiration helps with that.
When a character is built from close observation, the details tend to feel more natural. The quiet pause feels more believable. The playful moment feels warmer. The relationship between two characters feels less like an idea and more like something lived.
For us, Snowy and Lilo were not just visual references. They helped shape the emotional tone of the world itself.
If you have not seen it yet, our Meet Chloe and Button video introduces Snowy and Lilo and shares the real dogs behind the characters.
It is a simple, personal piece, but we think it says something important about how A Little Big World was made. This world was built with care, and a lot of that care started with paying attention to small, meaningful things.
If you are new here, A Little Big World is a gentle children’s story app filled with warm illustrated animal stories for quiet moments, story time, and winding down.
And if you already know Chloe and Button from the app, we hope it is lovely to finally meet the real dogs who helped inspire them.
You can explore the app, discover more stories, or browse more Journal posts to see how this little world continues to grow.
A Little Big World is a growing library of short, meaningful children’s stories designed for ages 2–7.
Each story focuses on emotional growth, social understanding, and gentle life lessons — told in a simple way young children can understand.
We believe small stories can hold big meaning.
