The Dog That Saved the World (Cup)
by Phil Earle, illustrated by Elisa Paganelli
Interest age: 9 to 13
Reading age: 8+
Published by Barrington Stoke, 2020
About this book
For Pickles the dog and his owner Elsie, football is everything – they love nothing more than playing the beautiful game together. So when Elsie’s local team win the chance to play a half-time match at the upcoming World Cup, the pair are very excited. But off-pitch, times are hard. Elsie’s dad is struggling to pay for rent and food. To make matters worse, the World Cup trophy has been stolen, putting the whole tournament – and Elsie’s dream match – in jeopardy. Can the loyal Pickles save the World (Cup) and make Elsie’s Wembley dream come true?
This highly engaging plot takes its inspiration from two fascinating real-life football icons – including a dog called Pickles who discovered the 1966 World Cup trophy after it was stolen from an exhibition! Written to be highly accessible, the clear layout, dyslexia-friendly font and tinted pages make this a great book for building confidence in newly independent readers.
A heartfelt and super-readable story with a positive and encouraging message about staying true to your dreams even when life presents challenges.
About the author
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Lists of recommended reads
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Fantastic football books
They don't call it the beautiful game for nothing! It's no wonder that lots of children enjoy watching football, with its ups and downs and twists and turns.