Tiny Dogs: The Best Birthday Party
Rose Lihou
Puffin

In this third story of the Tiny Dogs series Beatrix Bloom celebrates her eighth birthday with a party, something she’s never done before. Her mum is full of enthusiasm but Bea is less so: can she cope with a party at which she’s the centre of attention? However, she agrees but the tiny dogs are unsure and decide that their special child guardian will need their help. At school when Bea overhears others talking about how amazing their own parties were, she starts worrying all over again. Back home she shares her angst with the tiny dogs and slips Clover into her pocket when the family goes to the party shop. Spoilt for choice, Bea does as her mum suggests and choose a couple of things she really likes, then unsurprisingly selects invitations with dogs on them.

Strangely, the following morning the Tiny Dogs discover the invitations have got scattered all over the place

and Bea has a surprise when they turn up at school and give them to her.

On party day itself Bea is thrilled to see how their room looks and before long the guests start arriving. Things don’t get off to quite the good start everyone hoped but it’s sorted out satisfactorily and the rest of the party goes with a swing – mostly,

thanks in no small part to the tiny dogs. Everyone leaves feeling very happy and even the dogs are infected with the party spirit.

I’d not met the Tiny Dogs before but was enchanted by this story showing the importance of family, teamwork, friendship, as I’m sure readers around Bea’s age will be, whether or not they’ve read the previous books. Rose Libou’s colour illustrations are a delight and add extra charm to her telling.