Paws

Alex, an 11-year-old autistic boy, wants a friend at school. He decides to win a trophy at the PAWS Dog Show with his cockapoo, Kevin, to impress the kids.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 04 August 2022
Publisher: Walker Books Ltd

Alex's best friend is Kevin, the cockapoo, although what he wants most of all is a friend at school. A charming and gentle story about how life isn't one size fits all.

Everything is changing for 11-year-old Alex, and, as an autistic person, change can be terrifying. With the first day of high school only a couple of months away, Alex is sure that having a friend by his side will help. So, he's devised a plan – impress the kids at school by winning a trophy at the PAWS Dog Show with his trusty sidekick, Kevin. This should be a walk in the park ... right?

Alex and Kevin have been training for months, but Alex is still nervous about the big day. He's worried that Kevin won't perform as well as he usually does, or that he'll get too excited and forget his tricks. On the day of the show, Alex and Kevin arrive early and get ready to impress.

The first round goes well, and Alex and Kevin are in the lead. But then, disaster strikes. Kevin gets distracted by a squirrel and starts chasing it instead of performing his tricks. Alex tries to get him back on track, but it's too late. They lose the round and are eliminated from the competition.

Alex is devastated. He knows that he let his friend down and that he's let himself down too. He feels like he's failed everyone, especially himself. But Kevin isn't giving up. He knows that Alex is disappointed, but he also knows that he's proud of him. He tells Alex that he's still his best friend and that they'll try again next time.

Alex is grateful for Kevin's support. He knows that he couldn't have done it without him. He also knows that he needs to work harder on his own skills and not rely on Kevin so much. He decides to join the school's autism support group and work on developing his social skills.

Over time, Alex's confidence grows. He starts making friends at school and even finds a girlfriend. He and Kevin continue to train for dog shows, but now they're doing it for fun and for each other. Alex knows that he's still autistic, but he also knows that he's capable of great things. He's learned that having a friend by his side doesn't mean that he's alone, and that sometimes, the best friends are the ones who support and encourage us to be our best selves.

Weight: 170g
Dimension: 198 x 129 x 14 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781406399240