Puppy Academy: Scout and the Sausage Thief

Scout is a German Shepherd puppy at the Sausage Dreams Puppy Academy for working dogs in Little Barking. Her parents are both well-known working police dogs and Scout hopes to follow in their paw prints when she grows up. The story is set on an important day for Scout, as she gets ready to take her 'Care in the Community' test at school. Unfortunately, helping reunite a little girl with her lost teddy makes Scout late for school and causes her whole day to go terribly wrong. She fails two tests and is put on guard duty at the Food Shed, however, when the treats inside the shed mysteriously disappear even her best friends doubt her innocence and she runs away from school. Gill Lewis, the author of this book, is more well-known for her beautiful and thought-provoking fiction for older children but this book demonstrates that she can translate important messages for younger children too. The book is a fun, fast paced read and the reader is presented with lots of moral issues and happy solutions. The lovely, simple, black and white illustrations by Sarah Horne, which feature on each double page spread will keep younger readers entertained and reading on. The facts pages at the back of the book were interesting and informative too, I'd never even heard of the charity Sniffer Dogs UK and International until reading this book. I read the first three chapters to a Year 3 class during their library session at school, it only took 15 minutes, and they were all enthralled and wanting to know more about Scout's adventures. I am sure that Gill's latest series of books will be a success and will definitely be getting more for my younger readers! 112 pages, large print with simple black and white illustrations / Ages 6-8 (but my 10 year old loved it as a quick read!) / Reviewed by Kerra Dagley, school librarian

Suggested Reading Age 7+