The Dog Squad. The Show

Written and fully illustrated by Clara Vulliamy.  

An Adventure Book Review by Erin the Literary Cat©, International Book Reviewer.

Hello, and welcome to my weekend Read and Review, featuring an Adventure in Middle-Grade fiction.

This week, we have Book 3 in the Dog Squad series by a hugely talented artist and writer. So please bring your paws together, wag tails, and give deep rumbling purrs for Clara Vulliamy! 

To read a review of Book 1, CLICK HERE.

To read a review of Book 2, CLICK HERE. 

Without further ado, assuming everyone has been fed and had their walkies, let’s start our review of THE SHOW.

© Image copyright and used with permission

AUTHOR & ARTIST throughout:  Clara Vulliamy

Published by:  Harper Collins Children’s Books

Publication date Paperback:  OUT NOW

Paperback ISBN:  978 – 000 -856 5473

UK Cover price for Paperback:  £6.99

Pages: 104

Age range:  7 – 11

Any dogs or cats? Dogs, but if you look carefully, you’ll see a rather smart cat in there!

SPOILER ALERT

Some as to plot direction and characters.

Thank you to… 

I am exceedingly grateful to Clara, who personally sent over the digital pictures specifically so you all could enjoy them in the best possible way (IE, this week without Mrs H’s currently flour-covered fingers in the images).

As ever, our views are our own, and we only share reviews of books we have bought, been given as gifts or received in exchange for an impartial review.

First and foremost, the books we review are those we select to read, like, and feel our global readers deserve to know about and that we hope they, their family, friends and students will enjoy.

The plot

Eva, along with Wafer, her whippet, and her two friends Ash and Simone, head off to deliver parcels of supplies to local residents who can’t get out due to a storm and floods the previous day. It soon transpires that the storm ripped a hole in the roof of the local animal rescue centre. Even worse, as the shelter doesn’t have the funds to repair the roof, they will have to close, and the animals will be homeless.

Enter our team of young reporters and crimesolvers, The Dog Squad. What if the trio could raise funds for the shelter? It’s a great idea, one that their teacher thinks will work. Accordingly, he booked the school playground for the event a week hence. The fundraising event will be a Dog Show!

But if the team, Eva Ash and Simone, think they have this sorted, they have a rude awakening. After an initial keenness from their classmates to join in, there is nothing to show on the third day of planning save for two totalisers, some ruffled egos and empty chairs at the latest meeting. 

What have the team done wrong? More to the point, what can they do right to save the event and the shelter. With their teacher upset at losing his wedding ring, it seems nothing can go right.

So, to find out what the kids have done wrong and what they have to do to turn things around, you will have to buy an entry ticket to the Dog Show. I assure you, there is everything to play for, sticks included, and lessons and surprises cavort, yap, bark and howl all around. 

So, what did we think?

Without a doubt, this is a superb third adventure. Clara’s artwork leaps off the pages and into one’s heart.

The characters are so expressive. Big or small, as you see in this review, the images bring an extra and exciting dimension. The drama of the storm and its effect on people, property, and pets is palpable and immediately strikes a chord. Wafer is, of course, a central character, and he does lend a paw—to disastrous effect—but this particular story brings a bigger vista and adventure. 

We loved every page of this all-too-short (for adults and cats) expressive delightful tale. I think all the younger readers will love it too. 

So . . . . Crunch time. 

A must-have new read for parents and schools wishing to educate, enthuse and bring value to reading. It engenders responsibility and caring and promotes pausing to consider others when making decisions. This adventure focuses quite ably on team building and inclusivity of all sorts to deliver results. It does this in the best way: naturally, without hammering home, and as a default setting. Many adults could learn a thing or two I can tell you.

In a society seemingly bereft of social niceties and driven by money and must-have attitudes, this is a ray of hope, one most parents will appreciate being taught. 

Want to buy a copy?

To get a copy, please do consider your local independent bookshop. There are plenty out there just waiting to serve up whatever kind of mystery, fun and adventure you desire.

Clara Vulliamy’s web page can be found HERE or type this: https://claras.me/

Harper Collins Children’s Books web page can be found HERE or type this: https://harpercollinschildrensbooks.co.uk/explore/

We are joining the Sunday Selfies, hosted by the wonderful Kitties Blue and their mum, Janet Blue, from the Cat on My Head blog in America. Click this link to see Janet Blue’s selfie page.

I shall leave you with an early June Selfie. And as I am a barometer for the weather, you can tell it isn’t that nice out. Bed on a dreary day is the best place to be. . . 

Till laters!

ERin 

Till laters!

ERin