THAT’LL DO, MOSS

For animal lovers or shepherds, this third in Levin’s dog series (Look Back Moss, 1998; Away to Me Moss, 1994) continues her slice-of-life-on-the-farm saga. This latest tale of the woes of Moss the Border collie doesn’t stint on realism as he continues with his talented but erratic sheepherding under the tutelage of 12-year-old Diane, Zanna’s best friend. Diane has come to spend the summer as a live-in babysitter for Moss’s caretakers, and tries, but consistently fails, to learn how to guide Moss in his sheepdog trials. When rabies strikes the farm and two lambs must be slaughtered, four-year-old Tim tries to save his puppy from the same fate by running away. As the entire neighborhood searches for him, Moss finds the boy, but an over-eager searcher nearly kills Moss with a pipe. Diane must decide if she should put the beloved dog down, as the vet suggests, or try to save him. Despite these hand-wringing dilemmas, Levin saves the action until the last few short chapters, laying the groundwork slowly. Much of Diane’s troubles involve babysitting small boys, another theme that will ring bells for juvenile girls. The leisurely pace notwithstanding, dog lovers and fans of the series will find much to enjoy here. (Fiction. 8-12)