The Frightened Puppy

Holly Webb's The Frightened Puppy is an animal story for 7 year olds about a girl on holiday who finds a tiny dog hiding by the river.

What happens

Avery's family have rented a cottage in the country for two weeks, and the river runs right past the bottom of the garden. Her brother Noah is fed up because there's no WiFi. Avery is thrilled.

On a kayaking trip she spots a small brown puppy in the reeds. It's all by itself, and it bolts the second someone shouts.

We get the puppy's side of the story too, and that's where it really tugs at you. She was taken from her mother, shut in a box and dumped by the water. She's starving, and she's learned that people mean loud voices and slammed doors.

A day later Avery drops her ice cream on the path and the puppy creeps out to gobble it up. So Avery hands over the rest of her lunch too, crisps and all. Before long the puppy has followed her home to the cottage and Avery has named her Hazel.

Here's the thing, though. Avery doesn't tell her mum and dad. She's scared Hazel will be sent back to whoever frightened her, so she keeps her a secret and sneaks food out in her pockets.

The best bits are the slow, quiet ones where Avery wins Hazel round. She crouches down to look small, keeps very still and lets the puppy come to her. If your reader has ever wished a nervous animal would choose them, they'll be holding their breath right along with her.

There are a few sad moments to be ready for. The puppy remembers a man who kicked her mother, and being abandoned is upsetting to read about. Avery also tells her parents a few fibs and goes off searching for Hazel on her own, which you might want to talk about afterwards.

It's all handled gently, though. A young animal lover will probably find it gripping rather than too sad, and Avery is a lovely, determined girl to spend a holiday with.

What to read next

For another shy little animal who needs a lot of patience, try The Smallest Kitten by Holly Webb, this time a black-and-white kitten and the twin sisters who adopt her.