Fenway and Hattie

Victoria J. Coe's Fenway and Hattie is a bouncy, funny dog story for 7 year olds, told by a Jack Russell who's sure he knows exactly what's going on (he doesn't).

What happens

Fenway lives in a city flat with Hattie, who he loves more than anything, and Food Lady and Fetch Man. One day all their things go into boxes. Then some Large Strangers who smell of coffee and sweat carry everything away. Fenway is certain they're burglars and barks until his bark wears out.

It turns out the family are moving to a house out of the city. There's a big garden, which Fenway decides is a Dog Park. There are also squirrels (evil), and a kitchen floor so slippery he can't get across it to his dinner. He calls it the Wicked Floor.

Worst of all, Hattie keeps climbing up into a little house in the big tree, where Fenway can't follow. And Goldie and Patches, the dogs next door, tell him their girl used to play with them all the time too...

The fun is all in the gap between what Fenway thinks and what's really going on. Children will spot straight away that the Evil Humans are removal men and the squirrel house is a treehouse, and they'll love being cleverer than the dog. His lines are brilliant read aloud. "I'm a professional!"

It's quietly lovely about a big change, too. Hattie is sad about leaving and hugs her one-armed teddy when she's scared. She's hoping the girl next door, Angel, might become a friend. Fenway feels all of it through his nose.

If your reader has just moved house, or is about to, this might be a gentle way to talk about it. At this age it's one to read together, and it's very easy to do the voices.

What to read next

For more of this pair, Fenway and Hattie and the Evil Bunny Gang has Fenway back on patrol in his Dog Park, with Goldie and Patches still next door.