The Appletree Animal Agency

This is the first in what is bound to be a very popular series with animal lovers or any young reader in search of a story filled with believable characters. It offers a beautifully crafted, gentle blend of adventure and humour, full of warmth and a real sense of a community, with its cosy village setting populated with some interesting residents. Mattie, who lives alone with her Dad, is so desperate for a pet that she pretends all the night animals she can see from her bedroom are her pets. It seems that almost everyone in her class has a pet. Her friend Zoe is very generous with her beloved dog Heinz, but it is not the same as having your very own puppy.  Could it be that the puppy she wishes for on a shooting star and which Heinz found cowering under a bush and in need of rescue, is the pet of her dreams? Taking the puppy to get sorted out at the vet, Zoe and Mattie meet Casper, the son of the replacement vet who has moved in with a menagerie of rescue animals. The children persuade Dr Polly to keep the puppy by offering to help with all the animals. Mattie is in her element as an apprentice vet and now can see ‘her’ puppy whenever she likes. But all these rescued animals need forever homes and Mattie’s idea to set up an agency at the village fete to find people the perfect pet does not go to plan and friends have to support each other to overcome their mistakes and mishaps, recognising their faults as well as their strengths. Young readers will learn a lot about resilience, responsibility and friendship, as well as about the proper care of animals, from this delightful story. The lovely black and white drawings throughout bring all the animal and human characters vividly to life. A truly quality offering for newly confident readers.