The New Puppy

This book, which is appealingly illustrated by Stephen Cartwright, simply describes some common aspects of caring for a new puppy. The children in the story are closely involved with the care of the new pet. The Appleby family choose a puppy from a litter at a private home (not a rescue centre), and call the puppy Shrimp. They take her home and introduce her to the family cat. The Appleby children (Ollie and Amber) feed Shrimp and play with her in the garden. Amber wants to sleep next to the puppy but her mother tells her she must sleep in her own bed. In the morning, the children discover that Shrimp has left a puddle on the floor by her bed. Mrs Appleby scolds the puppy gently and the family clean up. The puppy is taken to the vet for a check-up and an injection, and Amber and Ollie take her for a walk on a leash. The children love their new puppy.