Penny and the Little Lost Puppy

Moving home is often difficult especially when you’ve had to leave all your friends behind like Penny in artist Emily Sutton’s debut as both author and illustrator. Imagine her joy then when as she sits under an old apple tree in the back garden, out of the bushes appears a little dog that, far from being scary, clearly wants to play. By the end of the day with a new lively friend, Penny feels very different about things and can’t wait for the following day when they can play together again.

Next day however, there’s no sign of the little dog so Dad suggests visiting the shops and asking if anyone has seen the animal. They certainly get to know the new town and shopkeepers a bit better, but of the little dog there is apparently no sign, so the newcomers make their way back home. As they approach their house, a neighbour’s door opens and what should bound out but Penny’s canine companion from the previous day. Moreover she’s swiftly followed by a little boy who introduces his pet as Smudge and himself as Bill.

Soon Penny is having a tea party in her new home to celebrate not one but two new friends.

Illustrations crammed with a cornucopia of colourful details, particularly the shopping and park pages, positively cry out to readers to join in the quest to find the missing dog which may only become apparent in a retrospective perusal.