Toodle the cavoodle: Sniffle snuffle by Richard Tulloch. Illus. by Heidi Cooper Smith

All children will recognise this ragamuffin, boisterous animal using his nose to smell all the wonderful smells in his neighbourhood, particularly those given off by food. He snuffles around the overgrown grassy area near his house, sniffing at the cans and sandwiches he finds. He sniffles through the grass coming to a halt at the abandoned car which his friend loves. Together they imagine lots of places to visit. One day the older man with the smelly sneakers is on his ride on mower, chopping down the lovely long grass. The woman with grubby gumboots is picking up all the cans and rubbish and clearing them away. Startled he makes for her car where he can hide, but finds that the car is being taken away too. High up he barks for attention until the family attracts the the crane driver and lets him down.

Grandma has an idea and the next time Toodle steps outside he sees the car, all newly painted and covered with trailing plants looking just as inviting as before. And now he smells all the smells of all his friends as they sit in the car and imagine.

A wonderful story of friends and friendship, of a dog at the centre of the household, of a solution to the problem of what to do with the messy space next door with its abandoned car. A fun tale of the relationship between a dog and its owner, will have children laughing at the dog as he recognise people via their footwear.

The lively illustrations suit the story beautifully, Cooper Smith adding a great deal of fascinating detail for eager eyes to take in, things they will recognise in their own backyards and waste spaces in their neighbourhood. The recycling solution will add a level of discussion to the group as they finish reading. Teacher's notes and a book trailer are available from the publisher.

Themes: Dogs, Family, Rubbish, Recycling.

Fran Knight