Year: 2013 (this edition), First published in 1977
Publisher: Walker Books, London
Age: 4 and above
No. of Pages: 32
ISBN: 978 1 40634 164 5
This is a sweet tale of budding friendship set amid the starkly different social backgrounds of their families. The illustrations are intriguing with quirky little elements that pop up at odd places and waiting to be discovered like little Easter eggs. What would you make of a stone chimney that casts the shadow of a man in a bowler hat? Or a fountain pool with a, presumably resident, hippopotamus?
Anyway, the story is about Mr. Smith and his little girl Smudge out on a walk with their dog Albert. As are, a Mrs. Smythe and her son Charles with their dog Victoria. Their mannerisms and clothes suggest starkly differences but the children and their dogs get acquainted pretty quickly.
Excerpt
While the dogs played, Smudge and Charles edged nearer and nearer to each other.
Mr Smith and Mrs Smythe looked the other way.
Smudge went on the swings, swinging higher and higher, as high as she dared. Charles was not so sure.
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