Cosmo is 13, devoted to his family, especially his ‘brother’ Max. Cosmo is always at Max’s side, ready to play games, watch old movies, (his favourite is Grease), and offer a consoling lick if Max is feeling down. Cosmo is the family dog.

Memories of ‘dancing’ in the kitchen with Max’s parents before he was born are still clear in Cosmo’s mind, even if his old bones are more achy than nimble. But he still enjoys hearing music in the house and going out on Halloween even if he does have to go in a turtle costume. But Cosmo can feel a change in his family, especially Max. Sure he’s growing up, but there’s a sadness seeping in. Mum and Dad aren’t as happy as they used to be, and now the couch smells like Dad all the time.

Max shares his worries with Cosmo, as he always has, but now a worry too big to ignore has arrived. Will Max and Cosmo be separated if Mum and Dad live in separate houses? Together they work on a plan to prevent that ever happening. All they have to do is learn how to ‘dance.’

Told in the viewpoint of Cosmo, the family dog, this story had me looking at my dog and wondering how much he really understood. Is he like Cosmo who can follow most human conversations? Using his superior smell, Cosmo can also guess how his family are feeling.

His point of view wonderings about human habits were often funny but also insightful, and made me laugh about our quirks and habits. This was a wonderful story about a boy, his family, and their beloved dog who would do anything to keep them together. And don’t worry, nothing awful makes you cry at the end.

Author – Carlie Sorosiak

Age – 9+

Listen to the First Chapter here

(Dog, Golden Retriever, Pet, Dance, Grease, Competition, Movie, Rivalry, Family, Divorce, Sadness, Worry)