Lilly's Clever Puppy

Deborah Dowson is a Canadian children’s librarian living in Powell,
Ohio.

Lilly is looking for an idea of what to give her little brother Mac for
his birthday. What he wants most of all is a puppy, but since he’s
allergic to animal fur, he isn’t allowed to have one. Lilly’s friend
Minna suggests giving him a robot dog, and Lily is happy to find Bitsy,
a one-of-a-kind robotic dog that was created by the young man who works
in the local pet shop. At first Mac is disappointed that Bitsy isn’t
real, but when he discovers how cute and interesting she is, he becomes
very attached to her. Bitsy is clever and she obeys many commands. She
even puts herself at risk to retrieve the neighbor’s real puppy when
he strays too far on a frozen river. Bitsy is a hero, and although she
has to undergo some repairs, she is happily reunited with her family,
who love her as much as they would if she were a “real” puppy.

The First Novels series of chapter books for readers who are looking to
expand beyond picture books can be depended on for high-quality stories
with thoughtful topics and interesting characters. The attractive cover
art, large-print text in a paperback format, and up-to-date language and
situations make the books attractive to readers. In this latest volume,
Lilly’s character is a wonderful model of a very caring young person
who demonstrates that love can make even inanimate objects seem
“real.” Recommended.