Stripes ISBN 9781788952200 £5.99
Holly Webb is a very popular writer. This book tells the story of Jack. He does not find reading easy and is unhappy at school. Mattie, his sister, tells him about Daisy, a new puppy in the shelter who had been dumped by the side of the road. Daisy is nervous and unhappy. She doesn’t like people touching her. When Jack and his sister visit the animal centre. Jack meets Daisy and decides to do everything he can to help her. He practises his reading, sitting next to her. He continues to visit the centre and their relationship grows. Daisy becomes more confident. Then another family start to notice her. Jack worries that they will adopt her, and that he will lose his friend. I recommend this book because children can relate to several aspects of the story. There are opportunities to consider happiness at school, the way the adults approach Jack’s reading problems, the need to express your feelings and not expect others to guess what you think, and how past experiences impact on character. A thought-provoking read for children aged 6-8.
Brenda Marshall
