Swop The Satsuma-Sized Secret

This gorgeous chapter book is perfect for children aged 7 to 9. It has beautiful illustrations by Laura Ireland which help ignite the story visually and break up the amount of text on the page, perfect for reluctant readers.

Ernie has just moved house with his mum and older sister Ivy. With his toys still in boxes, Ernie starts to unpack and discovers a tiny dog in his memory box. But with a ‘no pets allowed' rule in their rented house what is Ernie to do with this satsuma-sized dog? With a dog so small, Ernie comes to the conclusion that he can easily hide it away from his family and so the adventure begins; Ernie and his new best friend Swop.

Noguera has produced two endearing characters: Swop and Ernie. The story is full of fun, adventure and laugh out loud moments which I know children will enjoy, especially the toilet issues that Ernie has to face and Swop's mischievous nature. Noguera explores themes of losing a parent, starting a new school, and bullying with sensitivity, which could encourage lots of discussions, both at home and at school. I love the added addition of Ernie's guide to signing the alphabet, at the back of the book, along with a message for the readers to decipher.

What an amazing start to the series and I cannot wait to see what Noguera has in store for Ernie and Swop's next adventure.