Jean Roba - Böcker

Billy has a very normal life, growing up in a typical family in a nondescript town. His dog, however, is a bit unusual: a cocker spaniel with human-or, as he often reflects himself, superior-intelligence. Buddy's got his posse of dog pals, his nemesis the neighbour's cat, and his almost-sister Caroline, the family tortoise. But it is with his best friend Billy that he gets up to the highest mischief, targeting everyone equally with love and abandon.

Billy's got a good life with Mum and Dad. Plenty of play, a little homework, and a smart, loving dog. Of course there's the occasional hitch: that nosy, bossy old maid of a neighbour - and her Siamese cat - or the cheeky beat cop Agent 22. But it's never too serious, and even Dad's occasional embarrassing blunders can't spoil things for long. After all, as long as you have friends, everything will be all right in the end!

Seasons come and go. It's winter now for Billy and Buddy, always a magical time for children - and at least one dog. Between the snow to play with and throw at each other, the ice to slide on, and the quaint seasonal customs a smart cocker spaniel can twist to the advantage of his stomach...The opportunities for fun and mischief are endless! Whether the adults feel the same way about it, well...That's not very important, is it?

Billy's family is a perfectly normal one. Dad, Mom, some cousins, a tortoise - and of course the best dog in the world, Buddy! Oh, true, the cocker spaniel is too smart for everyone's good sometimes, and occasionally triggers disasters or raids the fridge. But that's a small price to pay for a loyal companion who'll always be there to cheer you up and give you a good laugh!

Life has never been dull for Billy and his dog Buddy, but ever since the circus arrived in the neighbourhood, it's been getting better and better. There are crocodiles, ostriches, penguins, elephants...There's little Vittorio and his pet chameleon...And of course, Caroline the tortoise and Buddy's dog friends are still here. Oh, yes, quite the merry gang all right - and one who occasionally drives Billy's parents mad!

Buddy is a normal 7-year-old growing up in a normal family in a normal town. His best friend is a cocker spaniel named Billy, who is not so normal: He can make himself understood by humans without words and can talk to other animals. Billy's best friend is the family's tortoise, Caroline. Together, Billy and Buddy get up to all sorts of mischief, gently tormenting those around them. The family setting is overflowing with love and tenderness, and the duo's pranks are guaranteed to make readers of all ages roar with laughter.