I received a complimentary copy of this book via the publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

Sam the Stolen Puppy by Holly Webb is a heartbreaking tale of one little girl’s search for her missing pup. Emily had only one Christmas wish, and it was granted in the form of a beautiful golden labrador puppy. Immediately smitten, Emily takes her job as the puppy’s owner seriously, showering the adorable pup with all the love and attention he deserves. However, things go awry when Emily arrives home from school to find Sam missing, stolen from her backyard. Will she find him or is he lost forever?

This is such a cute story. While technically a mystery, it is light, making it appealing to all ages. Short, easy chapters with a few challenging vocabulary words make this a perfect book for young independent readers and an engaging read aloud. Simple illustrations depict scenes from the story and can be found throughout the book. Overall, this is a sweet, simple story that any animal lover will enjoy.