Fuzzball

Fuzzball

Nathan Luff

James Foley

Walker Books, 2026

64pp., pbk., RRP $A12.99

9781760658892

As Luca’s birthday draws close and his parents start dropping hints about him being old enough for some responsibility, he convinces himself that they are giving him the dog that he has yearned for for so long and spends his time trying to decide the best name for it.  But when the big day finally dawns, he is so disappointed to discover that his special present is a guinea pig – one that sits and shivers and quivers and looks like something the cat threw up.  So he names it Fuzzball. 

However, because his mum says that it could be a precursor to getting a dog if he demonstrates his commitment to its care, Luca gives Fuzzball the five-star treatment thinking that the dog would be forthcoming very soon.  But his idea of “soon” is very different from that of his parents and he loses interest. But then a conversation with his friend leigh changes his perspective…

“I’m stuck with a guinea pig you can’t walk, or teach how to shake hands or fetch a ball… A guinea  pig can’t do anything a dog can.”

“Why not?” Leigh asked.

This is another in the Paw Prints series especially written for those young readers who can manage early novels, and it is just as entertaining as its predecessors. Can Luca actually train Fuzzball to be like the dog he craves, or is there another twist in the plot?

Using text, fonts, formatting and illustrations and the sort of language and humour that its target audience of newly independent readers loves, the series is designed to encourage emerging readers to continue reading. Currently, guinea pigs seem to be the pet du jour so it is going to appeal to a wide range of readers who are eagerly seeking any stories that feature these creatures, and give them lots to share as they compare Luca’s situation and treatment of Fuzzball to their own. There is scope to discuss the common trope of a child wanting a pet, parents emphasising the sort of time and responsibility that caring for an animal – whether a guinea pig, dog or horse – entails as well as exploring the different needs of common pets.  Even a goldfish needs more than a pinch of fish flakes sprinkled into its bowl each day. 

Tagged as being “funny stories from your favourite funny people” this one lives up to that while still addressing a common issue that many of its target audience will relate to.