Poppy the Pirate Dog and the Missing Treasure    by Liza Kessler & Mike Phillips Order:  USA  Can Candlewick, 2015 (2015) Hardcover, Softcover     Reviewed by Bob Walch This middle-grade picture book features six short chapters and over forty pages, thus making it a story that a young reader can feel good about when he or she completes reading the book. The central character, a dog named Poppy, is going to assist his family in celebrating the mother's birthday. The children, Tim and Suzy, are planning a special pirate show for Mom, and Poppy is going to have to guard the treasure that will be part of the production. The neighbor's wayward pet tortoise will make the task a challenge as will an injury that Poppy receives that necessitates a trip to the vet. Even though it appears for a short while that the birthday celebration is total disaster, it fortunately all works out OK and ends well. This chapter book is ideal for the youngster who is ready for a longer book and more complex story. The author manages to increase the length of the story and complexity of the plot without making the vocabulary too demanding. Completing the book will give the child a sense of accomplishment and make him or her ready to tackle even more demanding stories in the future. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Kids books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews