The Appletree Animal Agency: Collie Chaos
Katya Balen, illustrated by Gill Smith
Katya Balen’s books are the gift that keep on giving and this new title in the Appletree Animal Agency series for younger readers is no exception. It is an utterly gorgeous warm-hearted type of book that makes us all want to work in a tree house “filled with beanbags and jars of brightly coloured sweets” and find homes for animals at the same time.
In this second book, Mattie, Zoe and Casper, ably helped by dogs Luna and Heinz and pet jackdaw Liquorice, become involved with Domino, a three-legged collie, and as in book one we are set to enjoy all sorts of shenanigans before we reluctantly leave them.
Balen’s language is rich in description – I love the “whirly-twirly slide” that stretches down to the garden from the treehouse and “three fat sleeping bags and a big wind-up lantern for midnight feasts”. The book is a sheer delight and I can’t wait for the rest of the series.
Published by Walker, 2025
