Dodie Smith's first novel, I Capture the Castle, sold well over a million copies throughout the world. Now she has written her first book for children. Grown-ups are going to enjoy it quite as much. And no dog who can read will be able to put it down.

It is funny. It is exciting. It has an endearing warmth of heart. Pongo and Missis, a young married couple of Dalmatian dogs, live with Mr. and Mrs. Dearly, a young married couple of humans. The Dearly's ex-nannies, now a cook and butler, are also part of the happy household. Fifteen delightful puppies are born, to be adored by all. And then—the puppies are stolen.

By whom? Top Men at Scotland Yard were frankly baffled. But one of the keenest brains in Dogdom was at work—Pongo had a clue! Nearby lived a sinister woman named Cruella de Vil who had a passion for furs. She had shown a marked interest in the puppies—and been heard wishing she had a white fur coat with black spots.

By a way known only to dogs (secret though noisy), Pongo got all the dogs of England to help trace the pups—to a mysterious house in deepest Suffolk. Then he and Missis set out to the rescue. They travelled by night, befriended by various generous dogs. But the rescue turned out to be an even greater task than Pongo expected, for the mysterious house was nothing less than a Dalmatian fur farm, guarded by the abominable Baddun brothers.

Many dangers had to be faced. Adventure follows adventure as the suspense mounts higher and higher. There are many surprises, too, before Cruella and the Badduns are defeated. But the biggest surprise of all is the one the Dearlys get, on a snowy Christmas Eve near the story's triumphant end.

Dog-lovers of all ages will delight in Pongo, Missis and their family, especially the tiny Cadpig, who is crazy about Television. Then there is Perdita, the touching lost dog. And a Great Dane, a gallant Spaniel, a shrewd old Sheepdog, and many other dogs of various breeds play important parts—not to mention a couple of cats, a horse and some kindly cows. Animals, humans, London and the country scene are charmingly portrayed in the many illustrations by Janet and Anne Grahame-Johnstone.

From the dust jacket