Do you ever wonder if those tiny little pocket-sized dogs that people tote around in handbags are really the diminutive little souls they appear? Fed on an ambrosia-like diet of tiny puppy love-heart crunchies, endlessly pampered, primped and fussed around with?
The tiny dog in "Don't Call Me Choochie Pooh" puts up with all manner of fussing and fawning from his over-attentive owner, to the point where it's terribly embarrassing going out for walkies when the other dogs hoot with laughter because of your big pink bow and silly pet names.
"Choochie Pooh" really just wants to be a dog, not a cuddly toy. He wants to dash around with the other dogs in the park, roll in something unmentionable, get absolutely filthy, chase sticks or cats - do all the things that a dog is supposed to do but when his owner takes him to the local playpark, a horde of other dogs are there.
Will they want to play with such a pampered pooch?
The cackling and chortling erupts throughout readings of this book, possibly aided by my shrill owner voice when reading this one aloud to Charlotte - and quite possibly because towards the end of the book, we find out that "Choochie Pooh" isn't the only dog with a very embarrasing pet name (in fact we'll leave you to discover what the poor alsatian in question is referred to as - it'll make you guffaw like a goon!)
So the next time you put princessy kiss-curls in your poor pooch's mane, or dish up a tasty bowl of heart-shaped mini puppy treats, think on what your dog could do to your shoes if it really got fed up with all the cissying!
Charlotte's favourite bit: Quite near the end of the book there's a fabulous spread where the dogs are all being called by their owners. Watch out for it, it's fantastic and made us both laugh till we cried!
Daddy's favourite bit: A blisteringly howlingly funny laugh-out-loud book from start to finish! We couldn't get enough of it!
(Kindly sent to us for review by Walker Books)
"Don't Call Me Choochie Pooh!"
Written by Sean Taylor
Illustrated by Kate Hindley
Published by Walker Books
Publication Date: 4th February 2016