Anna has a faithful dog called Dudley and Dudley wakes up early, eats a hearty breakfast, plays hide and seek, impresses Aunt Prym with his fleas and tries very hard to scare the neighbour’s cat. The day would always end with Dudley curled up with Anna on a comfy chair. One day Anna brings home a baby chameleon called Pequito. Pequito can do things like catch his own breakfast and is an expert at hide and seek. He impressed Aunt Prym and fascinated Anna’s friends so that Dudley is left to play on his own. The chameleon even sits with Anna on the comfy chair at the end of the day! Dudley, naturally, gets fed up and feels unloved. Later on Dudley sees that Pequito is gone and is initially glad, but starts to worry and goes off to look for him. That cat next door had found Pequito and Dudley rushes to his rescue barking very loudly scaring the cat into the pond and proving that he really is a hero. The story finishes with Dudley, Pequito and Anna all sitting in the comfy chair at the end of the day and it is Dudley’s job to look after his little chameleon friend from now on.
Categories: New Baby
Do You Still Love Me?
This could help a child overcome feelings of jealousy and learn to become friends with someone they may have seen as a rival. It could also help a child cope with their feelings when a new baby comes into the family.
Author: Charlotte Middleton
Illustrator: Charlotte Middleton
Publisher: Gullane Children's Books
Things we liked:
The reader feels an immediate sympathy with the dog, Dudley, on having a rival for Anna's friendship so it easy for a child to empathise with him. Pequito, the chameleon, is drawn in such a way that he is endearing with his big funny eyes making the reader like him as much as characters in the book do. Great comedy moments are provided visually in the depictions of the cat, creating more interest for a child reading this colourful and effective book.
Review by: Kate Proops