The O’Brien Press

Jenny is six years old. Every birthday she gets a new toy dog. But what she really wants is a real live dog, a pet that's all her own. But when Mum and Dad buy her a real dog called Lively, she finds out that real pets can be a lot of hard work! Panda number 19

Patrick Deeley is a teacher and poet. He has three books of poems to his name from Dedalus Press, with a fourth due next year. He also runs a workshop in Ballyfermot, specialising in children's poetry. Originally from Loughrea, County Galway, he has spent more than half his life teaching in Dublin.

'Enchanting and beautifully illustrated.'

Leinster Leader
The Leinster Leader

'Essential reading for children who want to own a real pet after the cuddly toy variety ... Martin Fagan provides good illustrations.'

Books Ireland

Teaching Resources: free to view and download

• Download RBFS: Teaching ideas for first and second class from the O'Brien Reading Programme