View source for Blamehounds (Little Gems) by Ross Collins

{{infobox2
|title=Blamehounds (Little Gems)
|author=Ross Collins
|reviewer=Sue Magee
|genre=Confident Readers
|rating=5
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|isbn=978-1781123928
|pages=96
|publisher=Barrington Stoke
|date=April 2014
|aznuk=1781123926
|aznus=1781123926
|cover=1781123926
|website=
|video=
|summary=It's truthfully a little gem - a lovely giggle-inducing story, great illustrations and with the best production values possible. Highly recommended. 
}}

The idea began with Mr Lime’s bodily explosions (didn’t I put that nicely?)  After three of them it was Norman the dog (who was entirely blameless in this matter so long as you’re willing to overlook the fact that he was having a lovely dream about dropping cats off bridges) who got the kick to speed him from the room.  There were a couple more occasions when something similar happened but instead of getting a complex about what was happening, Norman saw an opportunity.  A business opportunity.  If dogs were going to get the blame then there should be something in it for them and he went into partnership with his best mate, Ringo (who does seem to be obsessed with sausages) and Blamehounds was born.

Like all good business ideas the concept was simple.  When there was a problem for which a scapegoat (scapedog?) was required, Blamehounds would be contacted.  Money would change paws and a dog would appear, looking suitably contrite and taking the blame - allowing the humans to save face.  It’s a gloriously simple idea for a book too - one of those things that ‘everybody knows’ taken to ridiculous extremes and a great deal of fun had on the way.  I giggled (the call centre in the disused public toilets had me in stitches) and the book was finished all too quickly.  Brilliant.

There’s more to it though.  This is a Barrington Stoke Little Gem book.  They’re the people who are justly famed for their dyslexia-friendly books and whilst ‘’Blamehounds’’ isn’t specifically aimed at people with dyslexia it does follow all the guidelines which make reading easier for children.  There’s a high quality cream paper (no shadows through from the other side to distract), a special font which is easier to read and pictures on every page.  The reading age is five to eight and the quality of the book is superb.  There’s a snazzy cover and it’s of a size which small hands will find comfortable. Girls and boys will love the story and it’s just the sort of book which is going to encourage the newly independent reader.  Great stuff - and I’d like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to the Bookbag.

For another ‘Little Gem’ we can recommend [[The First Third Wish (Little Gems) by Ian Beck|The First Third Wish  by Ian Beck]].

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[[Category:Emerging Readers]]
[[Category:Dyslexia Friendly]]