Dave Pigeon 3. Pigeon Racer by Swapna Haddow, illus. Sheena Dempsey.

Dave Pigeon 3. Pigeon Racer by Swapna Haddow, illus. Sheena Dempsey. Pub. Faber & Faber, 2018.

As I read this new Dave Pigeon book I wondered if he had changed or learned something since his wing was ripped off by a mean cat. He is just as boastful and he and his friend Skipper are still living in the friendly human’s shed. But he is highly imaginative.

The friendly human takes Dave and Skipper to a vet where Dave is having a new wing fitted. There they meet a whole new set of animals including Jet, the wise cracking three legged dog. When they stay over night they are challenged by a former pirate’s parrot  Opprobrious Vastanavius. Dave as usual puts his beak in and ends up challenging the parrot to a race.

Ever the optimist Dave considers his new wing will be right and is confident his status as a racing pigeon will get him home. Then Dave’s missing father, a champion racing pigeon called Micky Lightning, shows up in the enemy camp giving racing tips to the parrot.

It’s all on. Full of bad jokes and madcap capers, this story is highly imaginative with lots of laughs for the newly confident reader.  Sheena Dempsey comes to the party with great illustrations of the new characters.

Worth getting this series.