Poppy and the Pipsqueak: The Mighty Pipsqueak by Deborah Kelly, illustrated by Amie Sabadin

Title: Poppy and the Pipsqueak: The Mighty Pipsqueak

Author: Deborah Kelly, illustrated by Amie Sabadin

Genre: Fiction

Publisher: Wombat Books

Published: 1^st March 2026

Format: Paperback

Pages: 66

Price: $11.99

Synopsis: When Poppy was born, it was ɑ long time before she could come home from the hospital, so when Jessie-Dog has ɑ puppy that’s smaller than the others, Poppy insists it can do everything the other pups can do.

But Dad says there’s no place for weak pups on ɑ farm. Poppy has to convince him to let her take care of Pipsqueak, determined to prove the little pup can grow into ɑ fine dog.

But what if she fails? And what if Dad decides Pipsqueak needs another home, far away from Poppy?

~*~

Eight-year-old Poppy is excited! Today she gets to meet Jessie-Dog’s puppies! And there, hiding in the box, is a runt. A small, female puppy that is struggling to get food from her mum. So Poppy is determined to help her grow. She knows what it is like to be born too early, and to struggle because of it. She needs help seeing and hearing, and she wants to make sure this pup has a chance, even if it’s a very small one.

Poppy sets about taking care of Pipsqueak and helping her grow up to be the best farm dog ever! She can’t fail, because she doesn’t want Pipsqueak to die. And she doesn’t want Dad to sell Pipsqueak either! Will Poppy get to keep her beloved puppy?

Poppy, the central character, is disabled in the first book in this new series. It’s accommodated with glasses and hearing aids, but it’s a core part of who she is and why she wants to help Pipsqueak. She knows what it is like to be behind and need help. This element is the core part of the novel and shapes Poppy’s relationship with Pipsqueak. It changes how people might look at disability, showing that whilst disabled people might have their challenges, they’re capable of doing things. Like raising a puppy that needs help. Pipsqueak will grow in her own way, as did Poppy, and become strong and brave throughout the novel.

This charming novel for junior fiction readers or early readers is all about empathy, strength and bravery. You can be physically strong or emotionally strong, and Poppy and Pipsqueak seem to have these strengths in spades. They both need help, but it’s their determination that gets them through and shows what it means to be yourself, and find your strength and place in the world.

It’s also set on a farm, showcasing the rural environment of Australia in a small way, but still bringing what it means to live on a farm that breeds working dogs to life. Younger readers will love the dogs, and cheer along for Poppy as she works hard to make sure everything works out for her and Pipsqueak. This was a really good start to a series!