Catch that Dog!

by Will Taylor

Based on the amazing true story of "the world's most valuable dog," a fun adventure about a famous big-city poodle named Masterpiece who finds a new life alongside a small-town girl named Joanie.



When Joanie first encounters Masterpiece, he's curled up in an alley and she mistakes him for (of all things!) a cat. Soon, though, she cleans him up and shows him home and discovers he is, in fact, a poodle.

What Joanie doesn't know is that Masterpiece isn't any ordinary poodle. No, Masterpiece is a world-famous poodle, who has been in movies and advertisements and has been seen hobnobbing with celebrities. So how did Masterpiece go from a palatial apartment in New York City to an alley in a small town in New Jersey? He was dognapped! And now not only does the dognapper want him back, but his former owner is offering a big reward.

Masterpiece knows he should want to go home to the luxury of his old life. But nobody's ever loved him the way Joanie loves him.

What's a dog to do?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Dogs

240 pages, Hardcover

Published June 28, 2022

About the author

Will Taylor (he/they) is an award-winning author, freelance marketing copywriter, and honeybee fan. He lives in the heart of Seattle surrounded by all the seagulls and not quite too many teacups, and when not writing can be found searching for the perfect bakery, talking to trees in parks, and completely losing his cool when he meets longhaired dachshunds. His books include The Language of Seabirds; The School for Wicked Witches series; Maggie & Abby’s Neverending Pillow Fort; Maggie & Abby and the Shipwreck Treehouse; Slimed (as Liam Gray); and Catch That Dog!

Reviews

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful “girl and her dog” story! Will Taylor takes liberties with the real life story of dognapped Masterpiece and weaves a tale of what might have happened to the world famous poodle when he disappeared in May 1953. While no one knows anything more than maybe he was last seen leaving his pampered life with a woman wearing a red coat, Taylor’s story puts the pooch with Joanie and her life will never be the same. Joanie and her parents barely eek out an existence running a shoe shine shop in a small town in New Jersey, but agree that she can keep the messy mutt that she rescues from behind a dumpster. Only her new dog, Lucky, knows that Joanie is tormented daily by school bullies with money and that she secretly creates wonderful portraits using her dad’s polishes and her own unique perspective that comes from an eye condition called refractive amblyopia, or “lazy eye.” Readers will have an idea how the book will end, but some aspects of the conclusion will be a surprise. Highly recommended for libraries serving grades 4-6. Text is free of profanity, sexual content, and violence is limited to verbal taunting and some meanness by the bullies on several occasions.

Will Taylor-Thanks for sending me a print arc to share with Twitter arc-sharing group, #BookAllies!

[Danielle Hammelef · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a middle grade gem. Joanie is a refreshing point of view character with unique ways of seeing the world that quickly endeared her to my heart. Masterpiece also makes an authentic point of view character and his understanding of the world of humans never felt forced.

I absolutely adored Joanie's parents who were loving, set boundaries, and actively involved with their daughter's life. Joanie's love and loyalty to her tiny family set her apart from the other children Joanie encountered. The bond between Joanie and Masterpiece made me want a dog in my life again.

This novel contains humor, action, suspense, and mystery with excellent characters and world building to make this a highly recommended middle grade novel. I will be thinking of this book for a long time.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never heard of this true story and I loved researching and reading about it after finishing this title. I loved this story! It was so sweet and reads like an older classic like "The Hundred Dresses." My only criticism is the bullying is pretty fierce and felt too stilted. But overall, I *really* enjoyed this one.

Found in L4M YT Volume 53.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never heard of this true story and I loved researching and reading about it after finishing this title. I loved this story! It was so sweet and reads like an older classic like "The Hundred Dresses." My only criticism is the bullying is pretty fierce and felt too stilted. But overall, I *really* enjoyed this one.

Found in L4M YT Volume 53

[H.R.H. Carpathia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very cute and wholesome book. I liked the format in which it was laid out and Joanie is such a unique character. It also has a strong sense of time and place. You do not need to know the year to understand it takes place in the 1950s. All of the character were interesting and there are some rather funny scenes as well. I think any age group could enjoy this book.

[LS Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many kids dream of finding a stray dog who becomes their best friend. This feel good story has that and more, with a feel good ending.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny, sweet, and satisfying book. The kid loved it and I enjoyed reading it to her! Did want to the bullies in it to get bent tho.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus or Netgalley

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joanie finds a stray poodle and convinces her parents to let her keep him. Unbeknownst to her, the poodle is famous and has been dognapped. The book was inspired by the true life story of Masterpiece, known as the world's most valuable dog, who mysteriously vanished. This is sweet, fun, and adventurous story about the friendship and love between a girl and her poodle.