Published by Hodder Children’s Books, an imprint of Hachette Children’s Group, 2021.

Flea’s got itchy feet! It’s time to find a new dog to call home. He sets off in search of a replacement dog but none of them quite cut it. There’s always something not quite right: too tall, too hairy, too spotty or too sticky…

This rhyming book is lots of fun. It’s silly, a little bit naughty, and full of energy. I liked the use of pairs of opposites throughout the book – some are familiar (big/small, dirty/clean), others a bit more quirky (too city/too farm).

The illustrations of all the different dogs are just brilliant! Each dog has its own distinct look and personality. There are so many different breeds too. There are dogs stealing sausages, chasing balls, digging for bones and we even spotted one of the Dalmatian puppies reading I Can Only Draw Worms, one of Will’s earlier books. Flea’s antics are also very entertaining: sheltering under an umbrella from the dog who is “too frequently leaky”, doing a little dance number to cheer up the dog who’s moping, and wearing a peg on his nose next to the cheeky dog who likes to fart! Obviously, Flea is pretty tiny so we had fun searching him out each time.

The final illustration at the back of the book after the story’s finished reveals a nice twist; it shows a panicked-looking Flea as Dog daydreams about replacement fleas!

A super picture book and one we’ll be reading again and again.

Rating: 💙💙💙💙💙

Suitable for children aged 3+

Thank you to Hachette Children’s Group for sending me this book to review.