Stripes Publishing ISBN 9781847159230 £5.99
Caitlin’s school is having a community week and Caitlin’s class is giving presentations on a charities they might support. She visits a local animal shelter and meets various animals including Winston, a charming whippet cross. Caitlin is attracted to the puppy who stars in her presentation. The class, and then the school vote to support the shelter. James, a boy from school, wants to give Winston a new home. This prompts Caitlin to realise how much she would like Winston for herself. The book offers plenty to discuss, such as how to cope with nerves when you are giving a presentation, Caitlin’s relationship with her brother, how to support local charities, how to hold an effective table sale, why pets are abandoned, the responsibilities of being a pet owner, the need for pets to be compatible, and the way you don’t realise what you want until you almost lose it. It is a good read for 6 to 8-year-olds.
Brenda Marshall, SATIPS Council