Woof by Spencer Quinn

Bowser and Birdie make a good team--right from the start!  Bowser, a dog that Birdie picks out at the pound right at the beginning of the book, tells the story of the bond between dog and girl.  With some quirky spins on how dogs may see things that humans do, Bowser tells the events that happen from the prize marlin getting stolen from Granny's store, where there is a strong smell of cigar smoke, to investigating Granny's rival (who smokes the same kind of cigar!) to making new friends and meeting some not-so-friendly people.  Bowser, of course, is the hero of the story, but Birdie's spunk cannot go unnoticed!  Woof by Spencer Quinn (Lexile: 650; Interest Level: Grades 3-6) is a fun mystery with adventure and humor included.  This is a good addition to the 2016-2017 Indian Paintbrush Nominee List. (304 p.)

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