Fenway and Hattie Up to New Tricks

Victoria J. Coe's Fenway and Hattie Up to New Tricks is a funny dog's-eye story for 7 year olds, told by a Jack Russell who is SURE he knows exactly what's going on.

What happens

Fenway loves Hattie, his short human, more than anything. He also loves food, towel rubs and chasing intruders out of the Dog Park (that's the back garden to you and me).

Lately, though, Hattie is acting strangely. Nana is coming to visit, and Hattie keeps pulling a mysterious box out of her wardrobe. Inside are silky scarves, a tall hat and a skinny black stick. Fenway thinks the scarves are for tug-of-war. Hattie does NOT agree.

Then a stripy chipmunk dives under a bush and Fenway dives in after him. Straight into some bees! His paw is "on fire", and before he knows it he's up on the Table of Panic at the vet's.

The joke is that Fenway gets things wrong, and your reader will spot it long before he does. Hattie's practising magic tricks. Fenway thinks she's shut him in a scary box for fun. The kind vet is "Spicy Breath" with "evil on her mind". And he comes home in a cone he's sure is a punishment in advance.

Young listeners love being cleverer than the narrator, and this gives them plenty of chances. Why is everyone being so nice to him? What are those yucky drops for?

There's a sweet heart to it too. Fenway starts to worry that Hattie doesn't love him like she used to. Hattie smells worried as well (Fenway can tell these things). Their special "best buddies" song pops up whenever one of them needs it.

It makes a great read-aloud, with plenty of barking, sniffing and "Wowee!" to do in your best dog voice.

What to read next

If they want to see the day Fenway's family packed up the old flat, try the book where Fenway and Hattie move house. Fenway is convinced squirrels have stolen all their things.