The Possum Thief
Dr Harry Cooper
Craig Graham
Mitch Vane

Macmillan 2003
32pp., hbk., $29.95
0073291132X

Do you enjoy the adventures of Dr Harry Cooper on TV? Well, he has now written his very own Australian adventure with the help of his closest companion, Scarlet. The illustrations by Mitch Vane are very bright and colourful. You can even recognise Dr Harry!

The Possum Thief is about Kate and her pug dog Smudge. Smudge’s best friend is a possum called Torchy. However, Smudge becomes the most miserable dog in the world when Torchy disappears.

When Torchy finally returns with baby possums the real problems begin. Smudge keeps taking the baby possums while Torchy sleeps during the day.

To solve their problem, Kate’s Dad decides it would be best to send Smudge to Grandma’s for a while. Kate is horrified and writes a letter to Dr Harry Cooper asking for his help. Dr Harry arrives with his dog Scarlet to work out how to solve the problem. If you want to know what happened next you will have to read the book.

I enjoyed this story for younger readers and I hope others will too.

Kate, N.S.W.