Ella and Olivia–Puppy Trouble
By Yvette Poshoglian
Illustrated by Danielle McDonald

 “Ella and Olivia have wanted a puppy forever. But when they get their wish, can they keep their promise to look after him?”

This endearing book is one in an Australian series published by Scholastic. The Ella and Olivia books follow two sisters as they encounter new exciting adventures and while learning to deal with every day issues.

In Puppy Trouble the girls are excitedly counting down until the day they pick up their puppy. Once they get little Bob home they learn that the responsibility of looking after a new puppy is much more difficult than they expected. Their adventure begins on the first night when little Bob surprises them the next morning with his devious handiwork.

Through trial and error the girls finally learn what it means to own a pet, a funny and sometimes messy journey.

This chapter in the lives of Ella and Olivia is relatable for any young girls that have ever owned a pet or dreamed of doing so. In a light hearted and fun way the reader discovers the adventures of the sisters, which is particularly enjoyable for someone reading the previous books in the series.

The simple black and white illustrations are enjoyable for children as it gives them the opportunity to colour in their characters, either in their mind or literally in the book (if personally owned). These playful and well written books would be a welcome addition to any school or home library as they provide easy reading for young to intermediate readers, providing an opportunity to further reading skills.

-Jess