Harriet Hound

Having thoroughly enjoyed 'Paws' by Kate Foster a year or two ago, I was excited to be sent this new book to review.  

It's perfect for younger readers who enjoy reading chapter books as it contains 3 stories (about 45 pages per story), each consisting of 8 short chapters.  The clear font is appealing, as are the words in different fonts and of differing sizes.  Words in a larger font are often synonyms (eg exceptional, astonishing, remarkable) or descriptive (eg peaceful, vibrant, refreshing).  Each story features about half a dozen black-and-white fun, energetic illustrations, although I'd love to see them in colour as I imagine they'd be vibrant and engaging.

The storyteller is an 8-year-old autistic girl who portrays perfectly what autism is like for her.  She also points out that it can be different for different children.  As a superhero, she saves the day in many situations, with the help of the dogs from her family's rescue shelter. For those readers who enjoy facts as well as fiction, there are also a few pages detailing different dog breeds and a practical guide on rescuing a dog.  

This is going to be a popular addition to our library, which I expect will be constantly on issue.