Julia Donaldson (text), Sarah Ogilvie (illus), The Detective Dog, Pan Macmillan Australia, 14 June 2016, 32pp., $24.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781509801596
Nell is a dog with a keen sense of smell. She is handy to have around the house, sniffing out all six-year old Peter’s lost toys and clothes. She also accompanies Peter to school on Mondays where she listens to children read all sorts of wonderful stories. One Monday though, the children discover the books are missing and Detective Dog Nell is on the case, sniffing out the culprit.
Reading Julia Donaldson is like snuggling into a favourite jumper. She is a talented wordsmith, able to immerse the reader in a moment, conjuring up sights and smells with her well chosen words and familiar rhyme. This book is a delight to read aloud, with a fast moving plot and satisfying resolution. The illustrations are fabulous and enhance the text. A little retro looking and lots of fun, they remind me of Quentin Blake’s drawings for Roald Dahl stories. I particularly love the double page spread of the public library which abounds with ‘heavenly’ possibility. Celebrating books and reading, The Detective Dog is a must have for any library. Recommended for young readers.
Reviewed by Sharon Seymour
