Pip and the Paw of Friendship: Puppy Academy, Book 3

Puppy Academy #3

by Gill Lewis

Pip the labrador puppy is learning the skills he needs to be an assistance dog for Kayla, a young girl in a wheelchair.

He’s desperate to have a human of his very own, but will Kayla want his help? And how will he get his Resist Temptation badge and become an assistance dog if he can’t stop himself from chasing any ball that moves?

Genres: Chapter Books, Childrens, Fiction, Animals

Audible Audio

Published August 2, 2022

About the author

Before she could walk, Gill Lewis was discovered force-feeding bread to a sick hedgehog under the rose bushes. Now her stories reflect her passion for wild animals in wild places. She draws inspiration from many of the people she has had the fortune to meet during her work as a vet, both at home and abroad. Gill Lewis has a masters degree in Writing for Young People from Bath Spa University and won the 2009 course prize for most promising writer. Her first novel was snapped up for publication within hours of being offered to publishers. She lives in Somerset with her young family and a motley crew of pets. She writes from a shed in the garden, in the company of spiders.

Reviews

[Ryan Daley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet, heartwarming book!

[Andrew Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another entertaining LKS2 story in the collection by Gill Lewis about puppies training to perform the role of assistance dogs to humans; in Pip's case, he hopes to be a supportive partner for a child with limited mobility who uses a wheelchair. Similar to the other books in the series, he inevitably encounters setbacks - in his case struggling to control his instinct to chase or play ball games when they are a distraction to responsibly caring for or guiding adults. Whilst all of Lewis' 'Puppy Academy' series are accessible and engaging for very many children who have pets, especially a Labrador like Pip - or even for schools who have a pet who lives on site - I particularly like the avenues this book provides for investigating deeper issues than purely humans' positive relationships with animals, and how we can care for and support each other. Many children have difficulty exercising control over themselves when distractions appear in just the same way Pip does; this could provide a means of engaging behaviour management mechanisms in the classroom, or even help pupils understand how some children with autism or ADHD may experience different feelings or sensory conflict in different situations. But more significantly, Lewis makes Kayla (the young human Pip is assigned to support) initially recoil from Pip's approaches, waving frantically in distress: it takes time and understanding for Pip and Kayla to build their loving, lasting relationship which subsequently and inevitably ensues. PSHE lessons could embrace first impressions, appropriate ways to approach and engage people we don't know, how it takes time to build respectful positive relationships with them. It could also help children with a fear of dogs or other animals to overcome these, by understanding the animals' perspectives and how best to respond to them. Kayla gains many new (human) friends through having Pip, and gains the courage to join a basketball team: this could be a valuable further message of inclusion for any class containing pupils with mobility needs; the legacy of the London 2012 Paralympics has challenged any lingering attitudes that sport is only for people with certain physical attributes. As ever, there's a non-fiction section added at the back, including a real-life assistance Labrador Josie and Sam, who she supports, and the author's own Labrador, slightly confusingly also called Sam! There are a huge range of positive and important messages to take away; and I feel sure any classroom which shared it would become a more caring, inclusive and empathetic environment.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lewis, Gill Pip and the Paw of Friendship (Puppy Academy #3). 128 pages. CHAPTER BOOK. Henry Holt and Company (Macmillan), 2016. $5.99. Content: Language: G (0 swears) Mature Content: G Violence: G.

This is the third book in the Puppy Academy series. Each book spotlights a puppy at Sausage Dreams Puppy Academy who is learning to become a working dog. In this book, Pip, a Labrador retriever is learning to be an assistance dog. However, he has to earn his Resist Temptation badge and unfortunately, he is easily tempted by ball games. During a trial period at the training center for assistance dogs, Pip meets Kayla, a girl in a wheelchair. He must prove to her and himself that he is a worthy assistant pup.

Filled with lots of black and white illustrations, this book will appeal to any animal lovers out there. I think readers will enjoy learning about how dogs are trained for different jobs. Information about assistance dogs and a spotlight on a real life assistance dog is included at the end of the book.

EL (K-3) – ADVISABLE. Reviewer: Nancy W.
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2017...

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This easy-to-read title in the Puppy Academy series highlights the story of friendly Pip who loves chasing balls. But he also wants to become a service dog, which means he has to quit doing something he loves. When he succeeds in resisting temptation, Pip is paired with Kayla, a girl in a wheelchair who could use his assistance. While it's love at first sight for Pip, it takes a little longer for Kayla to warm up to Pip despite his friendly personality. Gradually, though, Pip helps Kayla take risks and even venture outdoors and into a basketball game. Although there is a mishap during the game, everything works out for the best in the end. I was a bit worried for a while, though, but was pleased when Pip is awarded the Paw of Friendship, proving that he is, indeed, a very good dog. In addition to the story, there are snippets of information about actual service dogs in the back matter, providing a quick introduction to these hard-working animals. I predict that this series will be enormously popular with young readers.

[Efox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book also came home from the library without my review (like Julia the Sleeping Beauty Fairy: A Rainbow Magic Book but this one was actually really kind of great. While it doesn't have an illustration on every page (mark down for the 3 year old) it's about puppies and it has a huge amount of actual information about service dogs in here. The story is sweet - the puppies are at school and there's a lot of things about encouraging each other, dealing with disappointments, learning, and growing. But mostly, I loved that it discussed some of the real challenges children who have disabilities face and that it also was really clear, concrete, and age appropriate about the role of service animals. So much, I would actually consider getting another one of this series, because it was cute, and informative.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found book three of this series first, but thoroughly enjoyed it. A fun read with lots of action. Pip the athletic Lab, must decide what's more important -being a star at Pawball or finishing his training as a human assistance dog. Cute illustrations, both Pip and his human Kayla forge a strong bond. A few interesting facts re: assistance dogs, but I worry about the interaction of assistance dog with children who are not in his care. i've been taught by a friend who has a dog since she is blind, that assistance dogs are not to be treated by others like "pets" by others and that seemed to be a crucial missing fact for young readers. The author is a vet, and I will read others in the series as I am writing chapter book also.

[Dawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as cute as I was hoping.
Pip wants to be a service dog, but he can’t stop chasing balls. He has to choose between playing paw ball and assisting a human.
Except he kind of doesn’t at the end, so I’m not sure what the moral is? His human gets hurt but she makes friends so he still passes the test.

Also a very random world with anthropomorphic dogs (organized sports for dogs that “parents” watch, and dogs teach at and run the school), but also humans live like it’s a regular world. So a girl needs an assistant dog, but her mom meets with the canine head of the academy. Weird.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very nicely done beginning reader chapter book. Sweet story of about a Labrador puppy who wants to be an assistance dog but has a hard time resisting racing after balls. Comic style illustrations add to the fun.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best Puppy Academy book so far. I loved Pip, but who wouldn't love an assistance dog really? My seven-year-old loves all these books but this one was her favourite by far.

[Ione Leiser]

ten minutes later when you have teased you know what you know school trip and surprised

[Book Gannet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fun little book is perfect for dog loving children, with plenty of quirky illustrations to keep less confident readers engaged as it gives a glimpse into the training life of an assistance dog. Pip is a friendly Labrador puppy who desperately wants to pass his Resists Temptation badge so that he can earn his Paw of Friendship and become an assistance dog to his very own human. But while Pip is a master at ignoring food (unlike any other Lab I’ve ever known), he simply cannot hold back whenever a ball is near (whereas the Labs I’ve known couldn’t have cared less).

Yet despite this setback, Pip’s instructors introduce him to Kayla, a young girl in a wheelchair who is in definite need of a friend. And that’s where this book really shone – showing how Pip, and other assistance dogs, can make such a difference to people’s lives. In Pip’s case he shows that he isn’t just helpful in picking things up, opening doors and pressing buttons, he’s also a wonderful friend that someone like Kayla really needs.

Of course, Pip’s problems aren’t entirely solved when he meets Kayla and there’s still a bit of an adventure ahead for this particular pup. Although good things do result from Pip’s adventures, I couldn’t help feeling like he didn’t really learn his lesson and instead was somewhat rewarded for it. However, on the whole this was fun and sweet, while also being educational too.

(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)

[Tim Roast · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Pip and the Paw of Friendship" is the story of a Labrador pup called Pip who is a pupil at the Sausage Dreams Puppy Academy where he is training to be an assistance dog. His mum and dad were assistance dogs before him so there are huge expectations on him, which, together with his strong desire to play with balls, leads to problems in his quest to qualify to be an assistance dog and to get his "Paw of Friendship" badge.

This is an early reader book suitable for readers around the ages of 6-8 moving on from picture books to a slightly longer read. It has lots of quality black-and-white illustrations throughout.

I read another Puppy Academy before, the story of Star, and it won't surprise you that the plots are similar, both are training for roles their parents did, both meet obstacles along the way etc. This one though is better because of the emotional connection formed between Pip and his human Kayla.

My 9-year-old and 5-year-old daughters both enjoyed it.