Muttley

Name: Muttley
ISBN: 9780545324625

by Ellen Miles

The Puppy Place Series · Book 20 of 21

Ages 7–10

For the child who loves high-energy pets or is preparing to welcome a new furry friend into the home.

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About This Book

Reach for this book if your child is pleading for a high-energy dog or if your family is navigating the bittersweet process of fostering a pet. This story follows the Bean family as they take in Muttley, a pup with more energy than they bargained for. It beautifully explores the reality that loving an animal involves more than just play, it requires patience, consistent training, and sometimes, the selfless act of finding them the perfect forever home. It is a gentle guide for elementary-aged children on the responsibility of pet ownership and the complex emotions of saying goodbye. Parents will appreciate how it models empathy and the importance of understanding an animal's unique needs rather than just our own desires.

Welcoming a New Pet Dogs Empathy & Kindness Adoption & Foster Care Animals Love & Family Patience & Waiting Letting Go

What Parents Should Know

Sad ThemesMild

Emotional weight of saying goodbye to a foster pet.

Read plot summary

Part of The Puppy Place series, this installment focuses on Muttley, a high-energy mixed-breed dog that the Bean family agrees to foster. Charles and Lizzie must work together to channel Muttley's intense activity levels into positive behaviors while searching for a permanent owner who can keep up with him. SENSITIVE TOPICS: The book deals with the foster-to-adoption pipeline in a secular, realistic way. The central emotional challenge is the 'letting go' phase, which is handled with a hopeful resolution that emphasizes the dog's well-being over the foster family's attachment. EMOTIONAL ARC: The story begins with excitement and humor as Muttley's antics cause chaos. It moves into a middle phase of frustration and hard work (training), and concludes with a poignant but satisfying goodbye. IDEAL READER: A 7 to 9 year old who is a 'dog lover' but perhaps has an idealized version of pet ownership. It is perfect for a child whose family is considering fostering or who struggles with transitions and saying goodbye to friends. PARENT TRIGGER: A parent might choose this after seeing their child get frustrated that a real pet isn't acting like a stuffed toy, or if the child is struggling to understand why a foster animal cannot stay forever. PARENT PREP: No specific 'scary' scenes to preview, but parents should be ready to discuss why the Beans choose to give Muttley away at the end, as this can be confusing for children who equate 'love' with 'keeping.' AGE EXPERIENCE: Younger readers (age 7) will focus on the funny dog antics and the basic plot of finding a home. Older readers (age 9 to 10) will pick up on the nuances of responsibility and the maturity required to prioritize an animal's needs. DIFFERENTIATOR: Unlike many pet books that end in a 'surprise adoption' by the protagonist, this series emphasizes the vital, selfless role of fostering and the importance of matching a dog's temperament to the right environment.