A Pup Called Trouble

Bobbie Pyron's A Pup Called Trouble is an animal adventure for 7 year olds about a coyote pup whose curiosity carries him all the way from the woods to New York City.

What happens

He's the only pup in his litter born with his eyes wide open. And from that very first week he wants to see EVERYTHING. He wanders out of the den on wobbly legs. He sticks his nose into a hornets' nest. He chases a squirrel over a ledge and has to be rescued by a very grumpy raccoon, who tells his mother "he's trouble". So that becomes his name!

His parents warn the pups about the Makers (that's humans) and their huge growling Beasts (tractors and trucks). Of course, all Trouble hears is that there are MORE of them somewhere.

One foggy morning he hides in a farmer's truck to see where it goes. It goes to a market in the middle of the city. Suddenly there are people shouting, someone throws an onion at him and he's running through traffic, completely lost among the tall stone buildings.

Seeing the city through a coyote's eyes is half the fun. Taxis are small Beasts. An elevator is a shiny little den that won't let you out. A fountain is an odd, upside-down waterfall that's perfect for splashing in.

He isn't alone for long. There's Mischief, a crow who teases him mercilessly but can't quite help sharing a stolen lunch. There's Rosebud, a very timid opossum. And there's a girl called Amelia with a pair of binoculars who has noticed that something wild is out there.

It's gently exciting rather than scary. An eagle swoops at Trouble on his very first day, and an animal control officer sets out to catch him. But the chapters are short, the jokes come often and you always know Trouble has friends looking out for him.

What really comes through is how much he misses home. When he howls into the rain for his family, your reader will probably be howling along with him (or at least reaching for a tissue).

What to read next

If your reader is the one in your house who always wanders off to see what's round the next corner, they'll love Trouble. And if they'd like another tiny wild animal with big feelings and a very large family, try Appleblossom the Possum. She's the smallest of thirteen babies and she's taking acting lessons from her mum.