Puppy Academy: Scout and the Sausage Thief by Gill Lewis
| Puppy Academy: Scout and the Sausage Thief by Gill Lewis | |
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| Category: Emerging Readers | |
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Reviewer: Sue Magee
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| Summary: Whether or not you love dogs this makes for an engaging early reader from an animal expert. It's a good story which is going to hold the interest and is just nicely challenging in terms of vocabulary. | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 128 | Date: July 2015 |
| Publisher: OUP | |
| External links: Author's website | |
| ISBN: 978-0192739209 | |
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Scout attends the Puppy Academy, which is a special school where puppies who want to be working dogs go to learn their trade. She wants nothing more than to be a police dog, just like her mum and dad and when a sausage thief (he's called Frank Furter, you know) strikes she could have the opportunity to show what she's made of, but first she has to earn her Care in the Community badge. The tests are today and she must arrive at school in good time and looking clean and smart, but what's a pup to do when she spots a much-loved teddy lying in a pool of water? She knows that a child is going to be distraught - and that she must use her sense of smell to find the owner - even if she looks as though she's been through a hedge when she arrives at school.
I'm a sucker for dog books and Scout is such an endearing heroine. She's so responsible and determined to do the right thing, no matter what the consequences are to herself. She doesn't even get that upset when she's (wrongly) accused of stealing some treats. There's a gentle lesson there, but it's not done in a preachy manner - rather an example is set. There's a lovely ending but with just enough tension in the story to make you wonder exactly how it's all going to work out.
The book is pitched at the emerging reader - say six to eight years old - the boy or girl who is moving on from picture books to their first chapter book. There are plenty of gorgeous black and white illustrations from Sarah Horne to give those useful hints when there's a word or two you might not yet know - and to break up the pages. Chapter might appear to be slightly longer than in many similar books but the actual amount of text is probably comparable: I don't think anyone is going to feel outfaced. The vocabulary is nicely challenging without being too difficult and a young reader is going to close the book with a real feeling of satisfaction and pride at what they've achieved. The heroine might be technically female, but the book is going to appeal to both boys and girls.
I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to the Bookbag.
If you're looking for more early readers which feature puppies then we can recommend The Wish Puppy (Molly's Magic) by Holly Webb and Missing (Mystery Pups) by Jodie Mellor and Penny Dann.
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You can read more book reviews or buy Puppy Academy: Scout and the Sausage Thief by Gill Lewis at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy Puppy Academy: Scout and the Sausage Thief by Gill Lewis at Amazon.com.
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