The Dog that Saved the World (Cup‪)‬

A four-legged hero risks it all to make his best friend’s dream come true in this touching adventure of family, football and beating the odds.

Pickles the dog and his owner Elsie love football more than anything. And they’ve just heard the most amazing news. The World Cup is coming home to England and Elsie’s team have a chance to play in a half-time match at Wembley – with some help from Pickles, of course!

But life off the pitch is tough, even when Dad works hard to provide what they need. It’s their team of three against the world and right now it feels like they’re losing. So when disaster strikes and Elsie’s dreams of playing at Wembley are shattered, it’s up to Pickles to save the world (cup) …

Reviews

"A real winner – a great story told with humour and heart" – Matt Oldfield

“A heart-warming and inspiring tale that shows the power of football, but also shines a light on the often under-reported issue of children facing homelessness” – Homeless World Cup Foundation

"There is so much to enjoy in this inspirational, uplifting and insightful story … an honest and sensitive exploration of poverty and homelessness, all crowned by Paganelli's beautifully emotive artwork" – Lancashire Evening Post

"A big-hearted story of family and football" – The Bookseller

"A touching adventure combining the themes of family and football … Sensitive, honest and tackling some challenging topics" – Armadillo

About the author

PHIL EARLE was born and raised in Hull and kick-started his love of books with a job as a children's bookseller. Phil now works in children’s publishing and is the award-winning author of several books for young readers including Get Me Out of Here, a recent collaboration with Andy McNab, and the young adult novels Being Billy, and Mind the Gap. Phil's When the Sky Falls was Waterstones Children's Book of the Month for June 2021.
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Elisa Paganelli is an acclaimed and award-winning illustrator and designer originally from Modena, Italy. She illustrated The Highland Falcon Thief by M.G. Leonard and Sam Sedgman, which won the British Book of the Year – Children’s Fiction in 2021. At the 2020 Cose Belle Festival, Elisa’s artwork titled Kizuna was also longlisted for the Italian Illustration Award. Elisa has been commissioned worldwide by leading publishers in Italy and France; her most recent and popular titles being Un albero molto speciale and La Moufle.