TROUBLE WILL FIND YOU
by Joan M. Lexau & illustrated by Michael Chesworth
A breezy little story about a boy who wants a dog, but whose parents don't believe he's responsible enough to have one. They're wrong, of course, and Diz is just the boy to prove it. The title refers to his horoscope the very day his father tells him that if he can stay out of trouble, a dog will be his; Diz sees a puppy being mistreated and goes to its rescue, even though he knows the potential for disaster is there. The inclusion of this split-second moral decision give an otherwise familiar plot some meat, as does a nifty interweaving of some neighborhood burglaries, the presence of a feisty best friend, and Diz himself—he wants that dog so badly he weeps. Accompanied by amiably realistic b&w illustrations, a cheerful, quick read for the easy chapter-book shelf. (Fiction. 9-11)