Cole's Perfect Puppy: Perfect Puppies Book 1 by Frances Crossno (2016)

Publisher's Information

A prestigious Mom's Choice Award® recipient 
First Place Winner 2016 Purple Dragonfly Awards (Paperback, Middle Grade Fiction Category) 

In this award winning children’s book, author Frances Crossno weaves a delightful tale that uses Cole’s mission to bring the mischievous golden retriever puppy, Scarlet, home to teach children lessons of friendship, sacrifice and the true meaning of God’s perfect love. Both boys and girls with enjoy this story of faith, family and of course - puppies! 

Cole’s Perfect Puppy introduces young readers everywhere to Cole, his younger brother Caleb and their new friend Rachel. When Cole meets the “perfect puppy” after a mad chase through the mall, he hopes for her arrival under the tree on Christmas morning. But alas, it’s not meant to be. 
Instead, Cole embarks on an adventure to find a way to earn enough money, and get permission, to bring the golden retriever puppy home—learning a few life lessons along the way. 
From learning how to be thankful for the gift of his first “pet”, the pot-bellied pig Dandy Danny, to the merits of hard work and the true meaning of the power of prayer, Cole’s journey isn’t without a few hiccups. 

Cole's Perfect Puppy is the first in a series of Christian novels for young readers 7-12. 

Review

A charming, funny and heart warming tale about a young boy's friendship with a puppy. The story touches on issues such as bullying, friendship, kindness and sacrifice. It also introduces children to the concept of saving up money earned through doing jobs and chores and using it to buy something they want.

Other than Bible stories for children, Christian fiction for youngsters is not something I see very often in the children's section of the library. I'd love to see more books like this. It puts faith into context for children and makes it more relatable in their everyday lives.

Cole's Perfect puppy is one I'd recommend and I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series. It isn't preachy and it gently introduces the notion of God's love and doing the right thing. It is a nice story to read out to your class and discuss some of the themes in more detail either during Religion class or Social Personal Health Education.
At the end of the book there is a list of six helpful discussion questions to guide your talk. 


I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Cole's Perfect Puppy is available now in all good bookshops and with free shipping from the Book Depository