It's the Emperor's birthday ...But he's not happy. Presents spill over the steps of the palace, but he doesn't like any of them. Then Fred, the gardener, finds a missing label and attaches it to a stray puppy - 'The Last of the Gruckle Hounds'. The Emperor is overjoyed (never mind that he doesn't know what a 'gruckle' is!). The Last of the Gruckle Hounds lives a life of luxury, sleeping on silk cushions, feasting on salmon - while his twin brother, Scruff, searches for slops in the city's bins. Will the puppies ever meet again? And, if they do, will Fred's trick be discovered?

 

There are 144 pages in this book. This book was published 2002 by Hachette Children's Group .

Paul Stewart is the very funny, very talented author of more than fifteen books for children, including The Edge Chronicles, a collaboration with Chris Riddell. KATHRYN CAVE is the author of a number of successful children's books including Dragon Rise and Something Else (Puffin). She is a book editor in London and has three children.