The Werepuppy

Fear of dogs must be on the increase these days, so a book which takes this phobia as its theme is welcome. Micky's dread is exacerbated by watching a video nasty, his sister's vicious teasing, the attentions of the school bully, and his 'manly' father's disgusted reactions to his timidity. All of this is very convincingly related. Less convincing is Micky's release from the terror, which comes as a result of his befriending a disturbed puppy. This enables him to frighten the living daylights out of both sister and bully, and to earn the respect of dad. A thought-provoking book, particularly in its early stages, which might encourage children to reflect on the nature of fear and courage.