Olivia and her dog Barkley are inseparable. He's her sidekick, her partner in crime-fighting - they're the perfect pair. But then, Barkley dies and Olivia is heartbroken. She dreads falling asleep because waking up without Barkley is just too sad. Gradually, however, she realizes that Barkley wouldn't want her to be unhappy for the rest of her life. So she thinks of a way that she cannot only get her own happiness back, but also give happiness to another animal, by adopting a new dog from an animal shelter. And so Spud joins the family. Spud is a terrible sidekick and crime-fighter - she wants to play with the bad guys not catch them! In fact, Spud couldn't be less like Barkley, but Olivia grows to love her very much because she's just as special in her own way.

 

This book has been graded for interest at 4-8 years.

There are 32 pages in this book. This book was published 2019 by Exisle Publishing .

Devon Sillett is a former radio producer, turned writer and reviewer. Born in the US, Devon now calls Australia home. She is currently completing her PhD on children's picture books at the University of Canberra, Devon also teaches in the writing department. In 2013, Devon was awarded the Australian Postgraduate Award for her research into YA speculative fiction. In her spare time, she can be found building Lego superheroes and playing tiny plastic musical instruments with her young sons Aaron and Jay, or reading a cosy book next to her husband Matthew. Nicky Johnston is an educator, speaker and author/illustrator of children's books. She is passionate about promoting emotional resilience in children and raising awareness of mental health issues. Her love of teaching sees her kept busy with school visits and presenting at workshops and conferences. Her previous titles with EK Books are 'Grandma Forgets', 'The Fix-It Man' and 'At the End of Holyrood Lane'.