Pets' Party by Ben Baglio (Scholastic Books, 128 pp, $3.9,9 pb, 2001, ages 8-10, grades 3-4) (see other Animal Ark reviews*)(This is number 17 in a series of Animal Ark Pets books.) Review by Skye Anderson
The Set-up
This is another book for children in which the kids take on mature characteristics to teach the adults a lesson. Mandy's parents are both veterinarians who play neutral or sometimes teaching roles. Her sidekick is James. Mandy's home is in the back of the veterinary clinic.
Mandy and Jack have a habit of rescuing animals and then finding homes for them but it's almost Christmas in England, snowing, and Mandy is worried that any newly rescued injured puppy sent to the shelter for the holidays will not be adopted.
The Plot
James and especially Mandy are wise beyond their years in befriending the new kid in school, Max, who is staying with his crotchety old grandmother, newly widowed, while his 'mum' is in the hospital and his dad is away for work. Gram does not like pets - they are messy, Max' dog Sandy in particular. As a matter of fact, perhaps the house would stay cleaner if Sandy were sent to a boarding kennel.
Oh, no!
Another question Pets' Party tries to answer is whether or not a dog can actually save a boy's life and if all these loose ends can be tied together happily before the holidays.
Also by Ben Baglio: Dolphin Diaries
On my list to read next, because they are about dogs in the Animal Ark series: Puppy Puzzle
and Doggy Dare
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