Millie, the Cutest Puppy in the World: New Home by Cate Whittle, illustrated by Nicky Johnston

Title: Millie, the Cutest Puppy in the World: New Home

Author: Cate Whittle, illustrated by Nicky Johnston

Genre: Fiction

Publisher: Scholastic Australia

Published: 1^st January 2024

Format: Paperback

Pages: 80

Price: $12.99

Synopsis: Millicent-Mae Moonbeam-White was quite the tiniest little fluffy white puppy that had ever been left on the doorstep at St Bernard’s Home for Little Lost Dogs.

Millie is a tiny fluffy puppy with an ink-black nose and great big honey-brown eyes. She lives happily at St Bernard’s Home for Little Lost Dogs, and dreams of one day finding her forever family.

~*~

Millicent-Mae Moonbeam-White, or Millie as she is known, has grown up at the St Bernard’s Home for Little Lost Dogs where she has learnt how to look after a home and her friends, and likes the routine of what they do every day. But Millie also wants a home of her own, and she watches as her friends are adopted and taken to their homes. One day, Nanny Birdwhistle comes to take Millie to her home in the country, and Millie’s new life begins – her own room, a family, and a chance for new friends!

The first in this lovely new series starts off quietly and beautifully, introducing readers to Millie and her new home. I fell in love with this – I love stories with animals, and this one is delightful. It explores adoption and finding a new home, and saying goodbye to friends – things that children might encounter in their lives, be going through themselves or know someone who is going through it, and gentle, quiet books like this can help explain adoption and new families to them, and open up conversations in families or schools about why some families look different, and that family can come from unexpected places.

Millie is a fun character, who lives her life well, and loves to have fun. She’s a great character to teach kids about responsibility, family, friendship, and acceptance – in all its forms. She is a beautiful character, and Cate’s whimsical and joyful words are brought to life alongside Nicky Johnston’s fun illustrations – she draws animals exceptionally well, and I love all the art she does for Scholastic books like Millie and Coco. Millie’s first story is lots of fun, but also deals with anxiety about change. This makes it the perfect start to a series, and a wonderful book to read to young children facing a big change in their lives like starting school, a change in the family, moving, or anything else that might cause them anxiety or make them feel uneasy. It’s also great for early readers – Millie is a character that so many people can relate to – I think older readers will understand her anxiety as well because whilst the scenario that makes people anxious might change, the feelings of uncertainty will be similar.

I have fallen in love with Millie, and can’t wait to see where she goes next!