Farm Rescue: Pup Patrol #1

Farm Rescue: Pup Patrol #1 by Darrel and Sally Odgers (Scholastic Press)

PB RRP $9.99

ISBN 978-1-74362-299-5

Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

Farm Rescue is the first book in a delightful new Australian series featuring Stamp - short for Barnaby Station Stamp of Approval - a Border Collie pup, and his master James, who are travelling around the country in the ‘Fourby’ 4WD.

As the story begins, so does the rain. It rains and rains and rains. The Fourby gets very muddy, James's hair is getting wet and Stamp starts to smell like damp dog. There is so much rain that they decide to seek shelter at nearby Pepper Plains Farm.

High and dry with the folk at the farm, James enjoys dinner with the Peppers while Stamp makes friends with Rusty the farm Collie in the barn. Rusty is worried about the sheep and is unsure if his master is aware of the impawtence of moving the flock away from the rising water. Can Rusty and Stamp alert the humans to the danger and save the sheep?

Pup Patrol is a new series by the creators of the popular Jack Russell and Pet Vet series. Told from Stamp's perspective, the language is playful with words such as pawsimistic and pawlite with Stamp's Glossary at the end of every chapter explains these dogisms, as well as farm related terms and any other words which may be new to a beginner reader.

Dog and puppy stories are always popular and the engaging characters, humour, excitement and bravery make this an appealing series. Short chapters and really sweet black and white illustrations add to the ease of reading for lower primary aged children. Readers will get caught up in the adventures of Stamp and James as they travel, meeting people and facing the challenges provided by the Australian landscape such as floods and bushfires.