Wittier and looser in plot development than its predecessors (Hotel for Dogs, 2008, and News for Dogs, 2009), which center on Andi, her brother Bruce, and their devotion to their doggie acquaintances, this episode offers both fans and newcomers plenty of delicious meat. Andi gets shut out of a kids' writing contest by a neighborhood nemesis, who bargains with her and Bruce so that the video they've made can reach the winners' circle of another dogcentric contest. Although the dogs themselves aren't front and center, this volume is a definite plus in a so far spotty series.

Andi Walker, age 12, was so sure she had won the Young Author Dog Lovers Contest that, when she got an envelope from the prize committee, she told her big brother, Ben, her first novel was going to be published before she opened the letter. To the horror of both of them, the first place prize went to their nemesis, Jerry Gordon, who kidnapped their dog in the second book in DuncanÆs trilogy, News for Dogs (Scholastic, 2009). (The first entry, Hotel for Dogs (Scholastic), came out in 1971 and was turned into a 2009 movie starring Emma Roberts). Andi is devastated to have come in second, but her loving family, especially delightful Aunt Alice, a former private investigator, encourage her to work with Ben to turn her novel into a screenplay, shoot the video, and enter it into a video contest. Neighborhood dogs are cast into adorable roles and shooting begins. Of course, Jerry the bully inserts himself into the drama, almost derailing this new venture until the tables turn on him. DuncanÆs depiction of a close sibling relationship and their devotion to their pets makes for a delightful reading experience. ItÆs a stretch, though, to think many middle school readers will be interested, given the age of the protagonists, but Duncan is a hit with teen readers, so it might work.ùBeth E. Andersen.

Siblings Andi and Bruce are named finalists in the Dogs in Action video contest. They go to Hollywood to make their dog, Red, a star, but old enemy Jerry stands in the way. This series entry maintains the humor of previous books (Hotel for Dogs, News for Dogs) while also introducing some kooky new characters (e.g. Gabby the talking canine).