Fortunately for Eli, he has a dog-loving family who are also keen for the new pup who is 'shiny-eyed, floppy-eared, big-pawed, [and] jet-black'. He's soon given the name Zoom, and it's one that suits him well.
And that's how Kelpie Chaos by Deb Fitzpatrick begins.
Zoom quicky becomes part of the family. He's smart and active and keeps Eli, Lexie and their parents busy as he grows.
Zoom loves eating cake, stealing socks, and going for walks. He also quickly becomes an escape artist.
When the family goes for a bush picnic, Zoom disappears. There are a couple of bumps along the way to a happy ending, along with a reminder of Zoom's inate talents as a kelpie cross.
Kelpie Chaos is a great, fictional but very life-like introduction to all that's involved with owning a dog, especially a puppy. It also addresses issues like moving on from the death of a previous dog friend.
From introducing the dog to its new home, training the dog and setting boundaries, to the responsibilities of pet ownership, there's a lot packed into the story. If your kids loved watching Muster Dogs, they're sure to love reading Kelpie Chaos, too. At just over 100 pages, it's also a good story for readers who are still getting used to longer novels.
A perfect book for dog lovers.
Title: Kelpie Chaos
Author: Deb Fitzpatrick
Publisher: Fremantle Press, $14.99
Publication Date: 2024
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781760993856
For ages: 7+
Type: Junior Fiction