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The joyful first book in a heart-warming and cosy animal rescue series from Carnegie-winner Katya Balen and beloved illustrator Gill Smith, for readers who love animals and all things vets."A huge heap of fun!" Ross Montgomery, New York Times bestselling author of I Am RebelWhen Mattie wishes on a shooting star for a puppy, she knows her wish is hopeless. Her dad just doesn't believe Mattie is responsible enough to look after a puppy. She finds the next best thing when she and her friend Zoë start helping the new vet and animal rescuer, Dr Polly. Mattie still may not have a pet of her own, but she has amazing adventures rescuing a runaway ferret, trying to stop a greedy goat from eating everything in the garden and looking after an adorable puppy with a hurt paw. But as the animal rescue gets more and more crowded, Mattie, Zoë and the vet's son, Casper, realize that they need to do something more. Can they help the animals find their forever homes?
Set in the cosy village of Mossdale in the lead up to their village fête, this uplifting animal and friendship story is the perfect gift for readers age 6, 7, 8 and 9. And don't miss the friends' next snowy adventure as they try to help a cheeky puppy at Christmas in The Appletree Animal Agency: Collie Chaos!"Balen has a wonderful gift for blending humour and emotion and this heart-warming animal adventure overflows with both." Daily Mail
About the author
Katya Balen is an award-winning author of books for children. Her debut novel,
The Space We're In, was highly commended for the Branford Boase Award,
October, October won the Carnegie Medal and the UKLA Book Award,
The Light in Everything was shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal, and
Foxlight won the 2024 Wainwright Prize for Children's Writing. When she's not writing books, Katya likes to scroll through dog-rescue websites, bake and attempt to keep her house plants alive. Katya lives in London.
Whilst working initially as a primary teacher, then within community arts and theatre,
Gill Smith pursued illustration and achieved an MA with distinction in Children's Book Illustration at the Cambridge School of Art. She was shortlisted for the Batsford Illustration prize and a winner of international competition, "Picture This". She illustrated
Maria's Island, a retelling of Victoria Hislop's bestselling book,
The Island, reimagined for children. She also illustrated
Saving the Butterfly, which was shortlisted for the Klaus Flugge Prize, and
Wild. Gill lives in Liverpool.
