More than 35 years after Hotel for Dogs (1971) (and coincident to the release of the film), the Walker children return for serious dog drama. Bruce is unable to purchase his pooch until he agrees to sell a local newspaper for dog-lovers, complete with poetry, recipes and the latest gossip. (His sister Andi’s melodramatic contributions provide humor throughout: “Just five sweet, cuddly balls of fuzz, / But, oh, how hard the parting was!”) While initially popular, the paper fails when investigative reporting spotlights a hurried pet owner and his absent pooper-scooper. Concerns intensify when a dognapper begins to steal pets, and the children devise a plan to catch the culprit. While the earnest dialogue is occasionally stifling, the siblings’ relationship is genuinely portrayed. There are more outlandish moments than in the original book, with Aunt Alice’s wit and ingenuity propelling the action. The predictable plot will leave mystery fans unsatisfied, but readers seeking wholesome fare will appreciate the resourceful characters. At bottom, it is the dogs, from loyal Red Rover to pampered Bully Bernstein, who should win best in show. (Fiction. 8-11)
