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Created page with "{{infobox |title=The Smug Pug |sort= Smug Pug |author=Anna Wilson |reviewer=Sue Magee |genre=Confident Readers |summary=More plot than most books for the 7+ age group & it's a..."
{{infobox
|title=The Smug Pug
|sort= Smug Pug
|author=Anna Wilson
|reviewer=Sue Magee
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=More plot than most books for the 7+ age group & it's a keeper. Definite recommendation.
|rating=4
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|pages=224
|publisher=Mcamillan's Children's Books
|date=January 2013
|isbn=978-1447200758
|website=http://www.annawilson.co.uk/
|video=
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1447200756</amazonuk>
|amazonus=<amazonus>1447200756</amazonus>
}}

We first met Pippa Peppercorn and the pooch-pampering parlour in [[The Poodle Problem by Anna Wilson|The Poodle Problem]] and then in [[The Dotty Dalmatian by Anna Wilson|The Dotty Dalmatian]]. Pippa is a whole six months (and a little bit) older now but she still bounces off the page like a rubber ball with red pigtails. I did worry about her just a little bit as she didn't seem to have any friends of her own age. The elderly Mrs Fudge, the ladies who have their hair done at the salon and Raphael the postman are really no substitute for someone of your own age with whom you can have fun and giggles. And pass notes to each other in school - which is an essential part of growing up.

Well, this time there's a new girl in school and she's called Tallulah Foghorn. She's living with her grandfather who's an inventor and she and Pippa are a perfect match. And just to make everything ''perfect'' she has a pug called Smug who spends most of his day in Tallulah's school bag. He's very intelligent and often tells Pippa the answers to questions when Mr Guttersnipe catches her not paying attention in class. You don't believe dogs can talk? Hmm...

It's a lovely story with a lot more plot than you usually find in books for the seven-plus age group. There's a ''real'' story in there and girls in the target age group - particularly those who love dogs - are sure to enjoy it. There are still some concessions (in the form of black and white illustrations) to the fact that lots of pages full of text can feel a little daunting, but this is a book which doesn't patronise its readers and rewards them handsomely for their efforts. I'm sorry that there won't be more books in this series but I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to the Bookbag. (Sobs quietly into hanky...)

Girls in this age group will also enjoy [[Pea's Book of Best Friends by Susie Day]] - we promise!

{{amazontext|amazon=1447200756}} {{waterstonestext|waterstones=9267958}}

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