Erin the Literary Cat : Clara Vulliamy

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Sunday 7 April 2024

The Dog Squad: The Race

Written and fully illustrated by Clara Vulliamy.

An Adventure Book Review by Erin the Literary Cat©, International Book Reviewer.

Hello, and welcome to my weekend Book Review featuring this week an Adventure in Middle Grade Fiction.

For our canine pals we have a wonderful new release from Clara. It's the second 7 to 11 year olds adventure featuring a whippet called Wafer, and his human child companions, Eva, Ash, and Simone. Together, they form the Dog Squad, up and coming school reporters at The News Hound paper, with an eye for the top story and are always up for adventure investigation and fun.

So, without further ado, lets find out about their latest hot-off-the-press adventure!

AUTHOR: Clara Vulliamy

Cover art by: Clara Vulliamy

Published by: Harper Collins Children's Books

Publication date Paperback: OUT NOW

Paperback ISBN: 978-0-00-856539-8

UK Cover price for Paperback: £6.99

Pages: 112

Age range: 7 - 11

SPOILER ALERT

Some as to plot direction and characters.

Thank you to...

I am exceedingly grateful to Clara who personally sent over the digital pictures specifically so you all could enjoy them in the best possible way (IE without Mrs H's marmalade covered fingers in the picture). And huge thanks for Mrs H spending her pension and cycling twenty miles in the pouring rain to the not so local bookshop so we could Read & Review this awesome kids' publication.

As ever, our views are our own, and we only share reviews of books we have bought, been given as gifts, or received in exchange for an impartial review.

First and foremost, the books we review are those we select to read, like, and feel our global readers deserve to know about and that we hope they, their family, friends and students will enjoy.

The plot

Wafer is Eva’s pet whippet. She wants to help him make new pals. So, finding out there is a 'meet and greet' for shy dogs, down the local park the following Sunday, she decides to go. With her pals, Ash, who is non-binary, and Simone, they take Wafer for what they hope will be fun and a way to burn off some of Wafer’s heaps of energy. But it turns out to be a bit of a flop, as the dogs that turn up refuse to mix.

On the way home, they bump into Sam, from the Wags and Whiskers day care centre. He suggests taking Wafer to do some whippet racing.

Which, having got Eva’s mum’s approval, is what the kids decide to do. But first, like the talented journalists they hope to be, they do some investigating. Armed with a training regimen for Wafer, which he takes to like a duck to water, they book him in to a local event.

Now, this is a short book, and so the remaining pages deal with events at and after the races Wafer has entered. Suffice it to say, it would not be an adventure for our Dog Squad Team of investigative reporters without something going on.

We get introduced to a few characters, as well as their whippets. And from here, the Dog Squad gets a whiff of foul play and potentially dangerous goings on for the dogs involved in the racing.

Will Wafer win the races and get a rosette? What are the series of nasty events that threaten to overshadow the days racing? Will the bad guys go unpunished? These questions will be answered, but you’ll need to buy the book to see how.

What did we think?

Clara has a wonderful way of bringing her art into the very fabric of the story. This book is no exception. A simple but highly entertaining plot brings action, inclusion, and a theme that supports right and fitting behaviour for our youngsters. All brought to life in art on or across almost every page.

So . . . Crunch time.

This is a wonderful sequel. One that we just had to have. Adult books lose out for not generally having artwork, save for somewhat spurious or generic genre covers. For any younger readers, this book will be a real visual treat and well worth buying to encourage/develop their reading skills and sense of adventure.

A link to our review of the first book can be found HERE.

A link to our review of Clara's 'Marshmallow Pie Cat Superstar' adventure books can be found HERE.

Want to buy a copy?

To get a copy, please race down to your independent bookshop. There are plenty out there and each shop is just waiting to serve up whatever kind of mystery, fun and adventure you desire. You can't fail to win with this book!

Clara Vulliamy's web page can be found HERE or type this: https://claras.me/

Harper Collins Children's Books web page can be found HERE or type this: https://harpercollinschildrensbooks.co.uk/explore/

We are joining the Sunday Selfies, hosted by the wonderful Kitties Blue and their mum, Janet Blue, from the Cat on My Head blog in America. Click this link to see Janet Blue's selfie page.

Small image. The Cat on My Head Sunday Selfies Blog Hop badge. Features a yellow-haired lady with a tuxedo cat on her head.

I shall leave you with an early April morning selfie. And no, I do not use paw whitener, honest 😉

Till laters!

ERin

Sunday 6 August 2023

The DOG SQUAD. The Newshound.

Written and fully illustrated by Clara Vulliamy.

A small version of book cover. Wafer the whippet sits front and centre on top of the letter 'o' in the centre of the word DOG. The three protagonists are either side of him set slightly further back so the look the same size as Wafer. The turquise backdrop has buildings and trees so is likely set in the local park. Clara's name is picked out in white at the op of the book. The Word s "The Dog Squard occupy the bottom third of the front page. The word 'squad sits in a bone shaped orane nametag that hangs off the letter 'O' in Dog. The words 'The NEWSHOUND is at the very bottom of the page in smaller yellow capitals.

Image © C Vulliamy

An Adventure Book Review by Erin the Literary Cat©, International Book Reviewer.

Hello, and welcome to my weekend Book Review featuring Adventures in Middle-Grade Fiction.

This week are incredibly honoured and happy to bring you the latest and most beautiful adventure from the author of the 'Marshmallow Pie, Cat Superstar' adventures, Clara Vulliamy. (To see my review of those fab books click this link)

This time, she has brought the younger readers the first adventure in a new series featuring a dog and three eleven-year-old school reporters.

So, stopping only for a quick scratch behind the ear and to check the food bowl and water are topped up, let's get straight into the review!

A large version of book cover. Wafer the whippet sits front and centre on top of the letter 'o' in the centre of the word DOG. The three protagonists are either side of him set slightly further back so the look the same size as Wafer. The turquise backdrop has buildings and trees so is likely set in the local park. Clara's name is picked out in white at the op of the book. The Word s "The Dog Squard occupy the bottom third of the front page. The word 'squad sits in a bone shaped orane nametag that hangs off the letter 'O' in Dog. The words 'The NEWSHOUND is at the very bottom of the page in smaller yellow capitals.

Image © Clara Vulliamy

AUTHOR: Clara Vulliamy

All art by: Clara Vulliamy

Published by: Harper Collins Childrens Books

Publication date: Paperback 3 Sept. 23

Paperback ISBN: 978 - 0 - 00 - 856 533 - 6

Cover price: Paperback £6.99

Pages: 114

Age range: 7 - 11

Any dogs or cats? Oh YES! Whilst this book mainly features dogs, Frank the cat does appear.

SPOILER ALERT

Inevitably as this is a short book, there are some as to plot direction and characters.

Thank you to...

We are exceedingly grateful once more to Clara, who sent me a personal copy of this delightful adventure to share with you all. Clara has also sent us some of the delightful artwork from the story for you all to enjoy.

As ever, our views are our own, and we only share reviews of books we have bought, been given as gifts, or received in exchange for an impartial review.

First and foremost, the books we review are those we love and feel our global readers deserve to know about and that we hope they, their children, friends, and students will enjoy. That is our guarantee to you.

Wafer the whippet leaps across a turquise backdrop. He is wearing an orange and pale pink chequed coat with a neck that extends onto his forelegs.

The plot

Eva lives with her mum, elder brother, Wes, and younger sister, Macy. The story opens with a bang when Eva's mum enters their kitchen, stops stunned, and demands to know "WHAT. IS. THAT?" That is the introduction to a scared puppy, soon known as Wafer, who Eva has under her chair. Alas, try as she might, Eva can't hide the fact she has smuggled Wafer in.

Eva spotted the dog alone and scared outside a shop several times during the previous week. Having saved the stray pup from being run over, it followers her home.

A black and white image showing our three protagonists walking along the pavement beside some shops. They are dressed in jackets and have back packs on. Ash has their THEY THEM badge on, a larger copy is at the top of the image. From left to right there is Eva, Simone and Ash.

Alas, the landlord does not allow pets. What to do? Well, mum insists Wafer can only stay one night. After that, they will need to take him to a rescue centre. This is where Eva and her two pals, Simone and Ash, get to play sleuths. They run their own newspaper, most aptly called The Newshound. Simone is not so good with interviewing people but fantastic at artwork, and so does the paper's lettering and illustrations. Ash – they are the cleverest person in the whole world – is the Star Researcher, which leaves Eva as the lead reporter.

A black and white image. Ash crouches to left of Wafer, who is in his chequered jacket. Simone kneels to the right. Both kids are petting Wafer.

Finding out how such a wonderful pup came to be alone on the streets, and who their real owner is, becomes their primary concern and the latest hot article in the making for the Newshound reporters. But whilst Eva's mum is slowly being won over to having Wafer in the flat, time and luck are rapidly running out.

A black and white image. Wafer the whippet lays curled in his bed.

Can the eager young reporters successfully unravel Wafer's story? Can they keep Wafer from the landlord's ever-watchful eyes? And will they get invites to what promises to be a great party but have been excluded from for being slightly different? All this and more will be revealed in the closing chapters!

So, what did we think?

I have to say straight up that I fell in love with Clara's artwork from the off. I mean, who could not be captivated by such appealing images of dogs and the characterful situations they and the child protagonists find themselves in and investigating. They are on almost every page, ranging from full page to small title sequences.

Double width black and white iamge. Two staff from the Wags and Whiskers dog walking business are walking down the road. They have 7 dogs between them ranging from a sausage dog, to a great Dane and a lurcher like wolf hound. In the background is the White Rabbit Book shop, Hair We Go, a hairdressers. There also seems to be a cake and tea shop. A dog on a lead waits outside the bookshop.

The images are but half of this review. The storyline is both compelling and fun, as well as displaying diversity in its lead characters, one of whom is non-binary. It rewards the young reader with healthy, balanced world-building, adventure, a pinch of mischief, and a wonderful message about caring for and the conscionable approach to adopting pets. Top Marks, and a few weepy eyes, all round.

So . . . .

Crunch time.

For most adults, this will be a speedy, enjoyable read. But I think this will be a perfect book for a read-along at home over a few days or in schools to engender cognisance and discussions of broader issues whilst bringing a smile to the face. So, without a doubt, an absolute must. It's as simple a recommendation as that.

Would you like to hear an extract from the story?

Clara has read an extract from the first chapter, which appears on the READING ZONE webpage. You can link to this page by clicking HERE. Or copy and paste the following: https://www.readingzone.com/books/the-dog-squad-the-newshound/

Want to buy a copy?

To get a copy, please do choose your local independent bookshop. There are plenty out there, and each shop is just waiting to serve up whatever kind of mystery, fun and adventure you desire.

Clara Vulliamy's web page can be found HERE or type this: https://claras.me/

Harper Collins Children's Books web page can be found HERE or type this: https://harpercollinschildrensbooks.co.uk/explore/

The winners of our GIVEAWAY prize of a copy of Michael the Amazing Mind Reading Sausage Dog are:- The Brian's Home blog, and all the guys at the The Oceanside Animals blog. If you will both please leave us a comment (which wont be published) as to where you want Amazon to send your copy of this book.

After all that sleuthing and those doggy delights, I shall leave you with a selfie of little old feline me. 🙂 🙂

We are joining the Sunday Selfies, hosted by the wonderful Kittes Blue and their mum, Janet Blue.

Mrs H isn't quite sure how to describe this position. Maybe the 'levelling pose' would be apt?

Till laters!

ERin