Salty Dog and Pals by Helen Stephens and Katie Chappell – at a glance
The School Reading Lists’ five word review: friendship, weather, gifts, kindness, animals.
Children’s book title: Salty Dog and Pals – The Storm and other Stories.
Children’s authors: Helen Stephens and Katie Chappell.
Genre: Children’s fiction.
Published by: Walker Books.
ISBN: 9781529526783.
Recommended for children aged: 5-7.
First published: Paperback May 2026.
This children’s book is ideal for: Reading aloud to younger listeners or stretching confident readers at the younger end of the suggested age range.
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Our review:
Salty Dog, Kitty Cat and Bernard the duck live on Salty Island in an upside-down boat. They all like doing different things but are happy living with their friends and spending time together. This book tells you about four of their adventures and how, whatever happens, they help each other out.
The Kite: When the wind blows across the island, Salty and Kitty like to play outside with kites and wind spinners, while Bernard much prefers staying inside! What will happen when Kitty persuades him to fly a kite with her on the beach?
Bath Night: Salty always gets the bath ready, but now Kitty wants to run it for her friends. She adds the bubble bath but doesn’t think it’s quite enough for the special time she wants her friends to enjoy. She adds a few other things she finds in their upside-down boathouse until she’s ready for everyone to jump in. Unfortunately, there may be a few more bubbles than she’d planned for!
The Storm: There is a storm brewing on Salty Island and Bernard is VERY scared. Salty tries playing their favourite sea shanties, but then the lights go out and something knocks at the door! Who will be brave enough to find out what’s happening, and what will they discover?
The New Jumper: Bernard likes to knit; it’s a quiet hobby which suits his personality very well. Kitty is very excited to find out what he is making, but there is a bit of a problem with it and poor Bernard is very discouraged. Can Salty sort things out, or will Bernard keep his promise and never knit again?
Solve all these problems alongside Salty and his friends, or see if you have a different solution which might help the three of them in another way.
Our verdict:
Salty Dog and Pals is a charming and entertaining book which can be read together over a number of lessons or as a read-alone book for those getting used to short stories about one subject. The illustrations, drawn by Helen Stephens, bring the different adventures to life and show what the three friends enjoy about living on their little island.
There is ample opportunity here to discuss the importance of friendship and kindness as well as the popularity of using animals as main characters in children’s fiction. It could also be a way of examining how humour can be shown in the illustrations as well as the words.
Teaching points and book club discussion ideas:
- Salty, Kitty and Bernard are very good friends, but who do you think is in charge when decisions need to be made?
- There is a map of Salty Island at the front and back of the book. Draw your own island and name all the exciting places you would like to have there.
- The three friends live in an upside-down boat with a triple bunk bed. What other things could be used as a home if you lived on a desert island?
- There are four stories in this book. Which one was your favourite? Why did you choose it?
- The illustrations are drawn by one of the authors, Helen Stephens. If you had the choice, would you write the story, illustrate it, or do both?
- Read a free sample chapter.
Many thanks to Walker Books for the review copy.
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Browse our Books for Year 2 list.
