Ten-year-old Rhys really loves dogs. When he finds a lost black Labrador with big conker eyes and ears like soft velvet, he can’t quite believe his luck. Nobody comes forward to claim Worthington, giving Rhys the perfect opportunity to prove he’s a good owner. But when Rhys moves to London to live with his estranged dad who hates dogs, Rhys decides to keep Worthington secret.

Struggling to connect with his dad in a new city, Rhys takes comfort in Worthington. But he soon discovers that looking after a secret dog is anything but easy, and he knows that before long he’ll have to confront his fears and find a way to tell Dad…

Phenomenally moving and beautifully written, My Dog shows us that accepting the present doesn’t mean forgetting the past – in a story that will live with you for ever.

Olivia Wakeford writes a lot about grief, which really means she writes about love. And dogs: she believes every story should have a dog in it! Olivia has worked in film and television, been a scriptwriter, dog-walker, PA and more, but her favourite job is writing novels for children. Olivia graduated with distinction from the MA in Writing for Children at Bath Spa University, she can ride a unicycle (badly) and is addicted to salt and vinegar crisps. She was born in Wales and now lives in London with her husband and their socially awkward Labrador, Obi. My Dog is her debut novel.

The activity pack includes book club-style questions to ponder and a recipe for delicious dog cookies. You'll design a den, solve our dog breed anagrams and make an origami dog bookmark, alongside jokes, facts and further reading recommendations.

Activity packs are a handy A5 size and printed on uncoated paper which is fully recyclable.

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• Standard UK Royal Mail delivery £3.50 (free on orders over £25)
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Our packs are wrapped in a simple paper sleeve and sent out in a cardboard book wrap – we would be so grateful if you could recycle both.

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We are a monthly book subscription by post for children aged 5 to 14, focused on helping families discover new and different chapter books.

This title was sent to subscribers in the Cockatoo reading group, aged roughly 8 to 12.