The same plucky young heroine who starred in Alison = s Wings (Hyperion, 1996) is back again in a very easy chapter book. Alison's birthday is coming up and she is certain she wants a puppy. Unfortunately, Alison's mother and father are just as certain that she's not going to get one. "Puppies chew,"they remind her. "Puppies make messes,"they add. And besides there's no one at home during the day to take care of the puppy. Surprisingly, Alison's mom and dad share a characteristic rare in fictional parents these days: when they say no, they mean it. Alison doesn't get a puppy but her story reaches a satisfying resolution nonetheless. (Ages 6-8)