This heart-warming story draws attention to the evolving forms longings take before they are realized, plaiting them through the humorous situations that occur in the process.
Jas has wanted a dog for a long time. She has filled her bedroom wall with prints of possible pets until the real thing comes along.
She walks Freddy, the neighbour’s dog. This temporarily fills her yearning for her own pet, something which her single parent dad fights against with all his will, but in a loving way.
Love is the pivotal point of this story.
On a special day when Freddy and Jas are on their customary walk around the neighbourhood, another dog joins them.
He continues to follow the two, in order to take back his ball which Freddy snatched when it fell from his mouth.
When Jas, trying to identify what breed he is, says he’s bits of this and bits of that, a name is born. At the same time, Bitza’s voice takes over.
Regardless of the commands for him to stay behing, Bitza feels like he has come home when Jas talks to him. Immediately, a powerful, life-changing emotion binds dog and human.
Bitza’s narrative allows us access to his thoughts and feelings juxtaposed with those of Jas.
Bitza ends up temporarily with Jas. Her persistent dad puts plans in place to find the owner.
What can Jas do when Peggie turns up to claim Bitza?
This promises to be a favourite with all the children that long for a pet to love, and that includes the child still alive in older people.
Perfect illustrations by Stephen Michael King complement the humorous text.
Book 2, Rules? What Rules? which promises to be as interesting and engaging as this one, is now available.
The last two will be released in September.
Title: Bitza: Bk 1
Author: Andrew Daddo
Illustrator: Stephen Michael King
Publisher: PenguinRandomHouse, $14.99
Publication Date: 17 February 2026
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781761355974
For ages: 6+
Type: Junior Fiction
