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Michael Whaite wrote and illustrated the award-winning children’s book 100 Dogs.

But critics say his drawing, which shows a bull terrier with red eyes and studded collar baring its teeth, paint the breed in a bad light.

A petition calling for the book to be recalled reached 32,000 signatures before it was closed after someone sent a death threat to Mr Whaite’s daughter.

The book is designed to be a “silly celebration of dogs” but critics claim children will become scared of the breed because of it.

Elaine Ball, of The Bull Terrier Club, said: “Bull terriers are not how they are portrayed in the book and you couldn’t hope to find a more friendly dog.

“Unfortunately, the author has chosen a lazy stereotype and that risks creating an irrational fear of the dogs in children. “Of course I don’t think the author should have been abused online but I do think the book should have been better researched.”

But Mr Whaite said he was “sick and tired of outrage culture”, adding: “I’ve been called idiotic, vile, disgusting, racist, prejudiced, talentless, ignorant, ugly, scum, foul, evil, mean, cruel... and those are the polite messages.

My next book will be 100 Insults.

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“The arrogant authoritarian individuals who have attacked me and my work seem to think that the world must change to suit them. “Write your own book, essay, article, poem or song. That’s how freedom of expression works.”

A Puffin spokesman said: “Unfortunately, we and the book’s author have received abusive and even threatening correspondence.

We are proud to publish this book and we stand by it and its author.”

Bull terriers have a reputation for being stubborn, but are also said to be good with children.