Mr. Hobbs was not only the fix-it-man for the town, he was a ventriloquist too. When 7 year old Randy had a Scottie that would chase cars, he brought the dog and the problem to Mr. Hobbs, who found a kindly, original way to cure him. But he had no results with a mother who didn't want any more animals in the crowded house. Happy ending and nice pictures by Mary-Amy Orpen, with alternate black and white and a red wash. Reading seven-to-eight year olds might manage the text.