Wonder Dog

Steve Pitt is a Toronto-based freelance writer and an award-winning journalist. He has written many young adult and children's books, including Day of the Flying Fox: The True Story of World War II Pilot Charley Fox.

Eight-year-old Kirby desperately wants her own dog, but no matter how
much she begs, her parents say no. Then, to make matters worse, Miranda
(Kirby’s worst rival in class), gets a puppy, and it is the very one
that Kirby wanted. Afraid of being mocked by Miranda, Kirby lies and
says that she is getting a dog too. Unfortunately, when people begin
asking to see her new dog, Kirby tells another lie, claiming that a
stray dog she found in her back yard is hers. When Miranda begins
bragging about how smart her new puppy is, Kirby is compelled to tell
yet another lie: she claims that her dog is a wonder dog that can
balance a ball on its nose and walk on a high wire. Now Kirby is in big
trouble. Everyone has heard about Kirby’s wonderful dog and her
teacher insists that Kirby bring the dog to school and have it show the
whole class its wonderful tricks.

Wonder Dog is a fun little book in which the moral does not get in the
way of a good story. Besides presenting the girl-wants-dog main plot,
the author mixes in birdwatching, racial diversity, and foundations of
friendship themes. Realistic black-and-white illustrations add an extra
oomph to this fine chapter book for young readers. Recommended.