News Hounds: The puppy problem by Laura James

From the author of The Adventures of Pug series comes this new doggy series perfect for young readers. Short chapters, lots of bright, full-colour, adorable illustrations and large font (as well as a simple, yet engaging storyline) will keep independent readers turning the pages.

In this first instalment Gizmo the sausage dog has just moved from the big city to the country with his journalist human...and he isn't too impressed with what he finds: fresh air, mud, bugs and big dogs! When he meets his new next door neighbour Jilly, he is sad to learn that her puppies are about to be sold off and sent far away. Gizmo just has to help, and using his superb writing skills (and his human's typewriter and photocopier) he manages to do just that. At the end of the story the town pups decide to start up a newspaper, with Gizmo at the helm as editor. This sets up the context for the ensuing books in the series, hence the News Hounds series name. The Puppy Problem contains lots of character development for each of the pups and the inside of the cover also profiles each one, their personality traits and their role in the newspaper crew: stylish Bruno lives at the hair salon, Bob is the station master's dog and loves to travel, Lola is sports mad and Bunty has a nose for rain.

This is a charming new series, complete with dashes of humour and doggy mischief, perfect for Pug fans and animal lovers in general. 

Themes: Problem solving, Dogs, Friendship.

Nicole Nelson