Bitza 1

by Andrew Daddo, Stephen Michael King (Illustrator)

A heartwarming and fabulously funny junior fiction series for girls and boys, told from the point of view of a dog looking for a new family. From irreverent funny man and unashamed mutt dog lover, Andrew Daddo, bestselling author of more than 50 books for younger readers, and illustrated by proven mutt dog expert, Stephen Michael King!

I'm Bitza the dog - bits of this and bits of that!

And they're all bits I'm proud of!
When I followed Jasper and my ball home from the park, I had a great feeling about her ... and I was right. She loves dogs and really REALLY wants one of her own.
Well, hello, here I am.
Though her dad might have other ideas ...

128 pages, Paperback

First published February 17, 2026

About the author

Born Andrew Dugald Daddo with twin James Beilby. School included "broken arms and fingers, scrapes and scratches, girlfriends, hot chips and a football team that refused to win a premiership." Careers included radio, TV - DVDs for GlobeTrekker. "He has written books for all ages – picture books, chapter books, short story collections, young adult novels and adult non-fiction." He "lives on Sydney’s Northern Beaches with" .. seven others "if you include our chicken Spite and thirteen if you include those pesky Indian Miner Birds who sneak in the crack in the window to eat what Spud the Dog, Felix, Bibi or Jasper (our kids) or Jacquie (my wife) leave lying around." https://www.facebook.com/andrew.daddo.16

Reviews

[The Book Squirrel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a totally charming short chapter book for newly independent readers gaining confidence and developing reading stamina (ages 5-7, or 8-9 year olds reading below age level). The font is large and well-spaced with occasional illustrations, perfect for those new readers.

It is told in first-person from the point of view of a dog who is lost and is found by a young girl who takes him home. The dog's thoughts are in a slightly different bold font, which helps the young reader see things from the dog's point of view while also showing that the humans are not privy to these thoughts.
Bitza melts the hearts of both girl and her father (appears to be a single-parent home), but the father is insistent they do the right thing and advertise the lost dog to try to find his owner. A woman arrives at the door, explains that the dog belonged to her father and that she can't take Bitza permanently, so of course everyone, including the dog, is thoroughly delighted that Bitza found his new forever home!

"Lovely" sums it up!

[Shane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute early chapter book about a girl named Jas who finds a lost dog and wants to keep him. But will Jas be able to convince her Dad, who doesn’t want to look after a dog? Or does he have a family already? I liked this book because it is funny and I liked being able to ‘hear’ what a dog was thinking. I also enjoyed Stephen Michael King's cute illustrations - Bitza reminded me of Three! My Year 1 & 2 students have been enjoying our read-aloud and I am sure will be quick to borrow the sequel.

[RACHAEL KIM · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book because a girl named Jas helped the poor dog. I also liked this book because it was funny and I know how the dog is feeling! But would Jas's dad will let a poor dog be inside or never? But one thing is that I didn't really get this story so, yeah!

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Does your emerging reader want some cute, funny animal action in their life? This could be the book for them.

Absolutely charming tale of Bitza, the lost dog (told from his point of view) and his new found friend, Jas, which will have you cheering them both on from go to woah!