His trainer, a friend of Granpa’s, has been called away to a family emergency. A temporary carer is needed until he recovers from an operation.
Stella overhears the conversation and having longed for a dog of her own, convinces Grandpa that she and her best friend Millie, will be happy to take care of Fergus.
The girls decide that this will be their Project of Choice theme, one of the many which their class has been allocated to research.
Being the Project of Choice means they must take Fergus to school with them to allow him to assimilate to all the social skills he needs to know, such as being with other people and animals, birds and sounds. Above all, to obey commands and be toilet trained.
There is a lot of learning, adjusting and change for Fergus, Stella, and Millie.
Regardless of the amount of enthusiasm and dedication the girls put in, disruption – of the class and other people’s projects, cannot be avoided.
For Gwyneth, a former antagonist of the two friends, has chosen Mindfulness and Meditation in Schools as her project. There is little of that with Fergus around.
Just when the pair believed that the three of them had arrived at a meeting place, Gwyneth declares war again. She finds Fergus a constant distraction and demands that he be sent away.
Will Stella and Millie be able to overcome the difficulties that arise, and prove they are responsible dog trainers and carers?
By referring to things in the first book, The Lost Ponies, a sense of continuation is formed. Complementing illustrations by Jedda Robard again add to children’s interest.
The prose in this series is positive in language and approach. It presents different ways of addressing problems, how to deal with conflict, and proves that perception is everything in any situation.
Challenges are handled with patience, kindness, and logical explanation.
Instructions on how to train a puppy are cleverly inserted throughout the dialogue and storyline. This allows children who long for a dog of their own to gain an insight into the responsibly and care needed to own and train a pet. It also affirms that nothing comes easy.
The Puppy Project is the second book in the fantastic Millie and Stella – Best Friends Forever series.
Title: Millie and Stella Best- Friends Forever : The Puppy Project
Author: Josephine Moon
Illustrator: Jedda Robard
Publisher: Penguin Random House, $16.99
Publication Date: 2 September 2025
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781761346507
For ages: 6+
Type: Junior Fiction
