Runt by Craig Silvey illustrated by Sara Acton

"Then for the first time Annie used her magic finger. She held it up, and Runt sat down. There was an invisible energy that seemed to connect them. It was as though a kind of electricity moved from the tip of Annie's finger to the end of Runt's snout."

"Remember, it's just like at home. Don't worry about all the sheep outside the fence. Just keep looking at me. You can do it. If we win this, we can go to London and try to pay the overdraft on the overdraft, and I could afford all the MUSH (dog food) you could ever eat."

This is a thoroughly joyous story about a girl and her wonderful dog named Runt. Life could be so good in their small Australian country town but a very, very greedy neighbour has been buying up the land and houses and he has redirected the town water into his own lake. There is a serious drought and the farmers who still live in Upson Downs are rapidly running out of hope and money.

Mum and Dad especially need money because the greedy landowner, appropriately named Earl Robert-Barren, is demanding the family pay him thousands of dollars for damage caused by their runaway sheep. 

Annie's dog Runt though,  has special talents. Annie discovers there is a competition with enormous prize money - enough money to save her family. Runt wins the agility course at the local rural show, then he wins at the National titles. The next stop is the Krumpets Dog Show in London but how will the family ever afford the plane ticket? Oh and there are two other HUGE problems. Firstly, Runt will not compete in front of an audience (the family do solve this in a very creative way). And secondly there is a serious rival - Fergus Fink. He plans to win at Krumpets and nothing will get in his way - nothing!

I usually laugh or dismiss the hyperbole often found on the back cover of books but I totally agree with these words:

"Runt is a heartwarming and hilarious tale of kindness, friendship, hurdles, hoops, tunnels, see-saws, and, above all, being yourself and bringing out the best in others."

Runt would be a terrific class read aloud book for a Grade 3 or 4 class and also a wonderful family read aloud. I almost read the whole book in one sitting and it does have 345 pages so hopefully that shows you that I thoroughly enjoyed the storytelling and twists and turns of this story. You will cheer for Annie and Runt and boo and hiss at Fergus Fink (he is a fink).  I do hope this book is selected for the CBCA Younger Readers notables in 2023.  Runt will be published in October, 2022. It would also make a wonderful present if you know an Australian family living overseas.  Huge thanks to Beachside Bookshop for my advance copy. 

Craig Silvey is the author of the adult titles - Honeybee and Jasper Jones. 

The beautiful community spirit and family unity in this book reminded me of this one:

The Stupendously Spectacular Spelling Bee

And the problem solving and the affect of drought on small rural communities reminded me of this one:

Bungawitta