Kaia loves dogs so much that she has started a dog club with her best friends. They call themselves "Woof!" Two of the club members own dogs: Lucky is Emily's Labrador; and Lauren has Coco, a white bichon frise. But Kaia and Samantha don't have dogs yet, and Kaia wants one like crazy. So when her Aunt Beryl calls up trying to find a home for Fred the basset hound, Kaia goes into "Operation Sweet Talk". Fred is the cutest thing she can imagine and she MUST persuade her parents to let her have him.

Well, Operation Sweet Talk works, and Fred arrives. And he isn't cute. He's big, with short legs and droopy eyes. Aunt Beryl hasn't bathed him or cleaned his ears, so he smells. His big ears flop in his food and water bowls, and he needs a slobber rag to wipe his drools. But Kaia loves him anyway, even when he wakes her up, howling like a foghorn.

She discovers that Fred is different from Emily's and Lauren's puppies in other ways, too. Chase sticks or slide down the sliding board at the park? Lucky and Coco will, but Fred just sits and sniffs a bush. As far as Kaia can see, Fred is only interested in food and rabbits. Eating is fine, but will he try to turn the rabbits into food, too? Kaia doesn't want that!

In this third book in the WOOF! series, find out how Kaia and Fred get along, and what Fred can do that Lucky and Coco can't. And if you're a dog lover, this title contains something extra, just for you: an autographed (maybe we should say "paw-graphed"?) full-color photo of Fred.

   --- Reviewed by Tamara Penny