Max and Spike can’t figure it out. They were once pampered pooches – loved by their owners, Sugar and Hey Babe.

But a small, strange creature has invaded. It’s noisy, shaking things and screaming. And so many more people are coming and going to the house! The worst thing is Sugar and Hey Babe don’t give Max and Spike the attention they are used to. It’s all going on the creature.

So Max and Spike put a plan together. The creature is very smelly, so the dog pals roll in the smelliest things they find. They shake things and make roaring noises too…

“Wooow – roow – roooowww!”

But not only does it NOT get them back in Sugar and Hey Babe’s good books – they are promptly scolded instead!

What’s a dog to do?

This tale of two dogs put out of their perfectly cushy life by a small interloper in their home, is told in their point of view.

Their plan to compete goes terribly wrong and soon they are left with only one option. I loved how they were saved at the last possible moment.

The illustrations are entertaining and full of two baffled dogs romping across the pages to garner some attention from their distracted owners.

This fun, bright New Zealand picture book will make a great gift for those with pets and a baby on the way, or just a laugh out loud read for young animal lovers.

Author – Kristin Kelly

Illustrator – Ronja Schipper

Publisher – Scholastic NZ

Picture Book

(2024, Scholastic NZ, Animals, Dogs, New Baby, Humour, Funny, Aotearoa New Zealand, Animal Point of View, Attention, Family)