Published by Guppy Books
I’m not sure I have read a Guppy book before – certainly I haven’t reviewed one of their books. They are a new publisher. This small volume was sent in a box of ‘swag’ to me at work, along with some other titles (yet to be read) and I picked this one out of the pile to read and finished it in an hour and a half or so. It is not a big book, but big enough for some. It just depends on who you are, whether it is being read to you or, if you are reading for yourself, it rather depends on whether you are a confident reader, or not.
Winslow is a donkey. Brought home by Louie’s dad. As creatures often are, it seems. Winslow is not doing so well and he admits that he doesn’t expect Winslow to survive the night, let alone to the end of the week.
This is the story of how Winslow does survive (perhaps I shouldn’t have let on, but it wouldn’t have been much of a book if he didn’t) – and how he turns Louie’s family upside down in the process and nearly gets everyone in trouble with the various government agencies supposedly looking after animal (and sometimes, human) interests…
It is also a story of families. Louie’s brother has joined the army and the whole family, in one way or another miss Gus – whether it be his just lounging nonchalantly against the wall, or in the curve of a cushion, where he used to sit. Louie is aware of the space his brother took up. It is a story of change and the challenges this brings. Brothers are important. Brothers that are not around are missed. As are sisters.
Sue & Pakka's... 