Award-winning British author Shirley Hughes teams up with daughter Clara Vulliamy for this first book in an appealing early chapter book series with retro flair.
Digby O'Day is a dapper dog. He has a best friend named Percy, a not-so-nice neighbor named Lou Ella, and a not-so-new but very clean red convertible that he loves. Digby also loves adventure, so when the ALL-DAY RACE from Didsworth to Dodsworth is announced, Digby and Percy decide to enter. Peril and excitement ensue--wrong turns, fender-benders, out of control roll-aways, runaway sheep, twisting shortcuts and breakdowns on the railroad tracks--as Digby and Percy try to beat Lou Ella and the other racers to claim the prize. In the end, Digby and Percy's kindnesses are rewarded, and Lou Ella gets her just deserts. With its beautiful duotone art, rigorously moral universe and just the right amount of thrills, this gentle series harkens back to an earlier time in children's books. Kids who love detail will pour over the illustrations, as well as the extra content--including a q&a with Digby, maps of Digby's world, car games, quizzes and more. The generous art-to-word ratio will give newly independent readers a sense of accomplishment at reading the book themselves, and the broad appeal of the characters and story will make it great for family read-alouds.
This is an old-fashioned story with oodles of charm, style and panache that feels like an instant classic. --Kristen McLean, former head of the Association of Booksellers for Children, founder and CEO of Bookigee