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The Poodle Problem by Anna Wilson (view source)
Revision as of 14:22, 29 January 2012
, 14:22, 29 January 2012no edit summary
Mrs Fudge had a big house and was rather lonely, so she decided that she would turn part of it into a hairdressing salon where people were encouraged to bring their dogs and to sample her rather delicious home baking. She met Pippa Peppercorn, aged ten and a quarter and a very self-sufficient young lady who was perfectly capable of helping Mrs Fudge by taking coats, making tea and looking after the dogs, but not by being on the operating end of the scissors, much to her disappointment. All was going well until a newcomer to the village of Crumbly-under-Edge opened a beauty parlour and it wasn't long before the competition became, well, just a little bit ''unfair''.
I loved Pippa. she ''bounces'' off the page, she's not at all goody-goody and she can be a little bit rude, although, t to be fair, the situation does usually demand desperate measures. She's got long red plaits and is utterly loyal to Mrs Fudge. She's also very wise, knowing that fashion isn't everything and that you don't dye your dog's coat to match your outfit - or buy a pup as a fashion accessory. Most of all she feels strongly that once you get a dog you have a ''responsibility''. Would that some of the ladies of Crumbly-under-Edge were as wise as Pippa - but then we wouldn't have had this glorious romp through difficult customers, the Pooch Parlour and playing detective with a talking dog called Dash. What do you mean, 'dogs don't talk'? You've just got to know how to listen!
It's a great book for girls in the seven-plus age group. Short chapters and plenty of zany illustrations are going to keep the interest going and give a real sense of achievement. The vocabulary is challenging (as it should be) but not too difficult and it's a ''good'' story - whatever your age. I liked the attitudes too - dogs are fun, but they are to be looked after. Mrs Fudge isn't impressed when Pippa is cheeky but it's not over-the-top. But no one is going to feel that they're being given a lecture - this is a fun and enjoyable read.