POPPY PENDAL GETS A PUPPY

A girl searches for the perfect name for her pooch in Moyes’ children’s book celebrating connection and individuality.

Poppy, a young girl with bright red hair clipped back in flower barrettes, is out shopping with her mother one day when she spots something wonderful: puppies. It’s a pet adoption day, and Mommy tells Poppy they’ve already gotten approval to bring a puppy home. Excitedly, Poppy reaches down and scoops up a sleepy puppy, who licks her face; it’s instant love. The puppy has three legs—the adoption agent says he was born that way, promising he’ll still be fine for a pet. “He’s more than fine,” Poppy proclaims. “He’s perfect!” Soon, Poppy and the puppy are the best of friends; Poppy and her mom make ramps to aid the puppy in getting around, and Poppy helps him travel in a wagon or sling. There’s just one problem: Poppy can’t decide on a name. Luckily, a visit to Poppy’s grandparents helps her find the answer: When Grandpa Hamish makes the pup an assistive wheel to help him move more easily, Poppy christens the pooch “Wheelson.” This sweet story of canine friendship has just the right amount of conflict, none of it stemming from Wheelson’s disability or typical puppy-training drama. Poppy’s quest is about really getting to know her friend and finding the perfect thing to call him to honor who he is. Moyes balances some text-dense pages with lighter ones, using an accessible vocabulary, but a variety of sentence complexities throughout may provide a challenge for emergent readers. Logovaia uses strong digital brush strokes to capture the bright-haired girl’s enthusiasm and the sweetness of her small puppy. The composition of each image highlights the connection between Poppy and her puppy and depicts a child surrounded by love.

A cheerful, encouraging story about love and understanding.