Scout and the Sausage Thief (Puppy Academy, 1) - Softcover

Gr 2–4—Scout, a German shepherd, wants to be a police dog, just like his mom and dad. They are working on a big case, trying to catch Frank Furter, an ex-police dog who turned to a life of stealing sausages. But on her way to Puppy Academy to test for her Care in the Community badge, Scout finds several sources of distraction, including the owner of a lost teddy bear and a mud puddle. She is then accused of stealing the bag of Crunchie Munchies she was tasked with guarding. Even with the threat of dismissal from Puppy Academy looming, Scout continues her hunt for Frank Furter and saves a large family of mice. Predictably, the story ends well. Entertaining black ink illustrations appear on most spreads, helping to move the narrative along and provide depictions of the emotions expressed by this mostly animal cast. Photos and facts about real police dogs at the end of the book bring an informational element to this fictional tale. VERDICT Fans of animal heroes and K-9 underdogs may enjoy Scout's lighthearted misadventures.—Lindsay Persohn, University of South Florida, Tampa