Stanley is excited to be adopted by Nina and her Mum. They are kind and loving and all he could want in owners. Another member of the household isn’t as pleased about Stanley’s arrival. Cleo the cat is a bit put out about this new puppy, and refuses to be friends.

Settling in in new home, Stanley wonders why there is a tree inside the house. It does look pretty with it’s lights and tinsel, and he soon learns all about Christmas. Cleo puts him right when she tells him all about the presents from Santa.

“Well, you won’t be putting your stocking up anyway. Santa comes to children, not animals,” Cleo said dismissively.

Stanley decides to do something about this, and as he makes new friends while out on his walks and in the backyard, he begins asking about Christmas wishes.

But the hardest wish to give is for Cleo, and he wonders if they will ever be friends. Will he have to give up his new home?

Stanley is an adorable positive dachshund puppy, and Cleo the cat an excellent contrast. The clash between dogs and cats is age-old, and in Sausage Dog Santa it’s much more gentle and deeper than at first thought.

Trying to do the right thing by his friends, Stanley helps cause a little chaos, but the hardest to please is Cleo who just happens to be the most important. The underlining worry of possibly of being sent back to the animal shelter if he doesn’t get on with Cleo provides a little tension throughout the story, and is resolved in a tender moment.

A lovely story for any time of the year, Sausage Dog Santa has large text, short chapters, and illustrations throughout.

There are more books in the Sausage Dog Series and a taster of another novel by Bella Swift (The Pug Who Wanted to be a Unicorn) is provided at the end of the book.

Author – Bella Swift

Illustrator – Kelly Caswell

Age – 6+

(2024, Hachette, Christmas, Dog, Cat, Bird, Animals, Adopted, Dachshund, Coffee House, Cafe, New Owner, Dog vs Cats, Gift giving, Wishes, Humour, Funny, Family, Friendship, Series)