Pia's Pet Club Puppy Problem - Serena Patel

 

Pia adores pets and is desperate for one of her own, so much so she's read everything she can about them.  She'd prefer a dog but would be happy with any pet; however, with her parents separated, the chances of her getting her dream are looking slimmer by the minute.  Then she meets Hari in the garden of her dad's apartment building.  He's trying, rather unsuccessfully, to train his puppy Luna before Nani arrives.  With Pia's help, can they train Luna in time?

I love Serena's Accidental Detective series so I was thrilled to see that she's written the first in a new series.  The book is a delightful read that is full of humour but also weaves in some important topics that will help readers.  As well as the responsibility of own and looking after a pet (I also liked that there was mention of why people might be wary of pets), there are also issues around parental separation and Pia getting used to moving between two homes.  As well as that, sibling relationships are explored.  

Pia is a completely relatable character and one readers will enjoy getting to know.  She makes mistakes and gets things wrong, and it's important that readers understand that this is part of life.  

With illustrations by Emma McCann that perfectly compliment the story, Pia's Pet Club is a perfect chapter read for children in Years 3 and 4.  I'm already looking forward to the next book in the series.