The Dog That Saved the World (Cup)

Phil Earle's The Dog That Saved the World (Cup) is a funny, big-hearted football story for 8 year olds told by a dog who's sure he's the best player in the park.

What happens

"Football is the best thing ever. Fact." That's Pickles talking. He's a dog, and he's quite certain he's a better footballer than his best friend Elsie (he does have four legs, to be fair).

Pickles, Elsie and Dad are a team of three. Every night at 6.08 the big train thunders past their little flat, and Elsie turns it into the roar of a football crowd.

Then the best news ever arrives. Elsie's team, the Saints, win a competition to play a match at half-time in the World Cup final at Wembley. And it's partly thanks to a video of Pickles in a Saints shirt, nutmegging the coach!

At home, though, things are getting harder. Dad sells double glazing over the phone and nobody's buying. Red letters keep arriving from someone Pickles thinks is called "Bill" (he's not very nice, whoever he is). Then Dad loses his job and the three of them have to move somewhere much smaller.

And then the World Cup trophy itself is stolen, and Pickles makes Elsie and Dad a promise.

Having a dog tell the story is what makes it work. Pickles doesn't always understand what's going on, so your reader gets to work it out a bit before he does. It keeps the sad parts gentle and the funny parts very funny. Pickles demands the crusts, licks his bowl clean to save on washing-up liquid, and would love to write a letter of complaint about dogs not being allowed at matches (if only he could hold a pen).

This one does look properly at money worries, so it's good to know what's coming. Dad cries more than once. He skips meals so Elsie can have his. Their new home is an old office block with graffiti, broken glass, a shared toilet and police sirens at night, and Elsie is frightened there. There's kindness too. Their new neighbours turn up with a welcome gift of a toilet roll and invite them to watch the matches. Some children will recognise a bit of their own life in this, which can make it all the more special.

What to read next

For another story about a football-mad kid and a dad with big dreams, try Tom Palmer's Football Academy: Free Kick. James plays for the United under-twelves and his dad once captained England, but James isn't sure he wants to be a footballer at all.