Michelle Guzel (text) and Andrew Plant (illustrator), Two Puggles, Ford Street Publishing, October 2022, 32 pp., RRP $24.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781922696151
Michelle Guzel presents a remarkable story that follows Spike and Ducky, two charming puggles that grow up in a loving and caring family. While Spike doesn’t realise that he looks somewhat different to his mother and sibling, others comment on his appearance. Spike grows up in a family of platypuses and soon realises that he cannot dive like Ducky or eat like Ducky. Instead, he’s really good at digging and loves to eat ants! But that doesn’t make his family love him any less. Later, after meeting an echidna family, Spike learns why he’s different.
This beautiful book is set in a chromatically stunning Australian scenery that presents themes of family, individuality, tolerance, acceptance and belonging. It is a great book to introduce some scientific information to little ones, such as Australian bush animals’ diets and behaviours. Also, it might be helpful to introduce adoption and identity themes to young children.
Andrew Plant’s illustrations have captured Guzel’s words beautifully and are a feast for the eyes. Each double spread is exquisitely colourful and engages the reader to point and interact. In addition, the illustrations bring the words to a whole new level, making the story perfect for reading aloud.
Special mention to the texture of Spike’s spikes, which make you want to take up the paintbrush and acrylics and attempt to paint an echidna yourself!
Reviewed by Erica Gongora
