‘I’m not a little puppy anymore!’ sang Fizz to the world. ‘I’m all grown up and ready to find a job.’
Fizz knew exactly what job he wanted.
‘I want to be a police dog,’ he said, puffing out his chest.
Fizz has all the right attributes for a police dog: he is brave; clever; and super-fast. There’s only one teensy tiny problem – Fizz doesn’t look like a police dog. He is ‘a small cute ball of white, fizzy, fuzzy fur’. But while others may think his looks disqualify him from any real chance of becoming a police dog, Fizz is determined. It’s clear that he’s not the only dog keen to tryout – there are dogs of all shapes and sizes lining up for the tryouts. Most are friendly, but Amadeus, a big, black, cold-eyed, gang-leader dog, is scathing. Fizz, he says, has less than no chance. One by one, dogs are sent home as they fail the tests. Fizz is undaunted. There are illustrations on every opening, a character spread and a contents page.
‘Fizz The Police Dog Series’ offers four titles about Fizz and his adventures. Fizz and the Police Dog Tryouts is Book 1. Each title is in a different colour, and numbers on the spine are complemented by a letter on each title, spelling out the name of the main character. Fizz makes many friends, although not all of them are destined to be police dogs. The character sketches introduce the reader to the dogs and people they will encounter. Titled and numbered chapters also include full page illustrations which hint at the action to come. Fizz may be little, but he’s friendly, smart and determined. Fizz has a lovely supportive family, although his mother, particularly, thinks he really should join the show circuit. Recommended for junior primary independent readers.
Fizz and the Police Dog Tryouts, Leslie Gibbes ill Stephen Michael King
Allen & Unwin 2016 ISBN: 9781760112851