{"product_id":"penelope-and-the-curse-of-the-canis-diamond-2-isbn-9780593661284","title":"Penelope and the Curse of the Canis Diamond #2","description":"\u003cb\u003eFollow Penelope the pug in the second book of this delightful series set in Regency-era London!\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePenelope the pug is completely content in her new forever home with Lady Diggleton. So when her beloved owner receives an invitation to meet the Queen at Windsor Castle—and an instruction to bring the pug along—Penelope couldn't be more pleased for her Lady's good fortune.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHowever, once the two arrive at the castle, their fortune starts to seem less than fortunate. The Queen commands Penelope to befriend her own pup, a snooty dog named Duchess whose manners are \u003ci\u003emost \u003c\/i\u003eoffensive, and who wants nothing to do with the poor pug.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut when the Queen's prized Canis diamond ring goes missing and Duchess stands accused, Penelope—who knows the dog is innocent—must find a way to defend her. If the pug is certain that her fellow canine didn't commit the crime, though, can she clear Duchess's name by determining who did?Deanna Kizis is a journalist, screenwriter, and author. Her first children’s book, \u003ci\u003ePlease Don’t Read This Book!\u003c\/i\u003e, is out now. Deanna has a daughter who loves pets. That means they have a dog, a cat, two fish, and a bearded dragon. If you ever want to come help, let them know – these pets won’t feed themselves! Find out more at www.deannakizis.com.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHannah Peck is an author and illustrator based in East London. Storytelling is central to her work, whether drawing from folklore and fairy tales or building detailed worlds in her children’s books. Hannah’s clients include Penguin, Faber, Bloomsbury, Audible, and more.\u003cb\u003eChapter One\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Penelope the pug—clever, resilient, and happy, with a wonderful home and a kind heart—never wanted to go on an adventure again.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eI’m not one of those pugs who takes risks purely for pleasure,\u003c\/i\u003e she thought as she awoke one fine morning, \u003ci\u003efor I believe pleasure can just as easily be found in a soft bed next to a warm fire.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Ever so contented, she stretched and yawned until her belly popped out and her pink tongue curled. She did not have anything to do that day except to eat, play with Lady Diggleton, and nap, which meant it was to be a glorious day indeed.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eWait a moment,\u003c\/i\u003e she thought, sitting up. \u003ci\u003eI do believe I had a most frightening dream.\u003c\/i\u003e She tried to remember before the memory flew away like a butterfly, as dreams often do. Oh, yes! She’d dreamed that she was lost again in Puggleton Park, and it was all the fault of a most dreadful squirrel.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e If you have not met Dreadful Squirrel, then you should know that he has shifty eyes, buckteeth, and a sparse tail, and that he is more vexing than any other squirrel alive.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e In the dream, Penelope was chasing Dreadful Squirrel, but he got away, as he always did, and Penelope realized she was very lost indeed. Without her owner, the only friend she had was Moon, whom you must know as well, since Moon shines in the sky for us all. It wasn’t until Penelope met Lady Diggleton that her luck began to change. But that is another story altogether.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e In \u003ci\u003ethis\u003c\/i\u003e story, Penelope was relieved to realize that her dream was just that. She still lived with her dear Lady Diggleton in a brick house in Mayfair, London. Abby was still the lady’s maid, Miss Bakerbeans was still the cook (and made the most delicious dog biscuits), and Lady Picklebottom, Lady Diggleton’s dearest friend, found dogs a bit more tolerable than she once did.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e On her way downstairs, Penelope passed Abby, who was carrying a basket of laundry that smelled of lavender and soap. Abby smiled. “Good morning, Penelope. I hope you’re having a fine day,” she said. “I’d stop to pet you, but I simply have too much work to do!”\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Abby was always bustling about, so Penelope made her way down another flight of stairs to reach the first floor, where she let herself out of her own doggy door. This rather clever addition was recently installed by a talented carpenter, and it allowed Penelope to go do her business in a most private manner. (And she often had quite a lot of business to do!)\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Once she was finished, Penelope entered the large pale green dining room where the sunlight streamed through the crystals in the chandelier and made rainbows dance on the walls. This was her favorite room in the house, for it is where she often found her dear Lady Diggleton.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “Good morning, Penelope,” Lady Diggleton said with a smile. She was seated at the enormous dining room table, eating her breakfast.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e In response, Penelope wagged her tail and let out a small yelp, which meant, “And a very good morning to you.”\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e She allowed Lady Diggleton to give her a scratch behind her left ear—this was her favorite spot, after all—then attacked the food in her silver dog bowl and licked it clean until it shone like new.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “It is time to go out, Penelope,” Lady Diggleton said, standing and heading into the hall as the little pug followed. “We are due at the offices of the \u003ci\u003eMorning Post\u003c\/i\u003e, where we shall buy an advertisement for the Ladies’ Society for the Relief of Lost Dogs. Then I shall take you for a walk through Puggleton Park, and after that we shall return home in time for tea.”\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Penelope waited patiently as Lady Diggleton attached her leash, which was made of pale green leather to match her Lady’s coat. She had not been expecting such a busy day, to be sure, but she did not find it disagreeable—as long as she was not going on an adventure, you see, for Penelope was quite through with those.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003eChapter Two\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The offices of the \u003ci\u003eMorning Post\u003c\/i\u003e in Covent Garden were filled with people hurrying about in a self-important way. Penelope tried not to get trampled by the boots of reporters while Lady Diggleton met with Mr. Tippletattle, an editor who sounded most competent indeed.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “And what would you like your advertisement to say, Lady Diggleton?” he asked, his pencil perched between his teeth just so.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “I should like it to say, ‘Lady Diggleton and Lady Picklebottom are honored to announce that they shall be holding a ladies’ sale of delightful, interesting, and rare things such as bangles, ribbons, and tea cozies,’” she said. “‘The sale will benefit their charity, the Ladies’ Society for the Relief of Lost Dogs, which places unhoused dogs with families of good character.’”\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Few were surprised to hear that Lady Diggleton had started a charity for lost dogs—she had rescued Penelope, after all. But the fact that her friend Lady Picklebottom was participating came as more of a shock. Lady Picklebottom used to say quite frequently that she believed all dogs belonged on a farm. However, she had grown rather fond of Penelope—even going so far as to give her a new toy. This did not mean, however, that Lady Picklebottom had a dog of her own. \u003ci\u003e“That,”\u003c\/i\u003e she said when asked, “would be going one paw too far.”\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “I daresay, Lady Diggleton, I’ve heard that your society has become quite popular,” Mr. Tippletattle said. He leaned forward and lowered his voice. “One of our reporters heard that your charity has caught the attention of the Queen, if you know what I’m saying.”\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Lady Diggleton gasped. “Whatever do you mean?”\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “Mark my words,” he said. “You are very much on Her Majesty’s mind.”\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Eyes wide, Lady Diggleton paid for her advertisement, while Penelope wondered why Mr. Tippletattle couldn't just tell Lady Diggleton everything he knew. \u003ci\u003eThis is the difference between people and pugs,\u003c\/i\u003e she thought. \u003ci\u003ePeople often prefer not to say what they are thinking, while pugs prefer to say exactly what they think—and mean it, too.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Lady Diggleton was about to leave when the editor leaned in once more. “One more thing, Lady Diggleton. Tomorrow’s paper will reveal that there is a thief in Mayfair, so do be careful.”\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “A thief?” Lady Diggleton said. “How awful.”\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “Indeed, and whoever it is has very particular taste, especially in jewelry, so keep your windows and doors locked tight.”\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “I most assuredly will, Mr. Tippletattle. Thank you for your kind assistance.”\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e “Anytime, Lady Diggleton!”\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eA thief?\u003c\/i\u003e Penelope thought as they left the building and turned toward Puggleton Park. \u003ci\u003eThat sounds most unpleasant!\u003c\/i\u003e She would have to make sure their home was safe each night before she went to bed. This was just as well, as Penelope already checked the kitchen each night for Dreadful Squirrel. One never knew when he might attempt to steal his favorite dessert.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eI do hope nobody tries to steal anything from us, \u003c\/i\u003eshe thought.\u003ci\u003e For although I’m just a pug, my bark can be quite loud indeed!\u003c\/i\u003e","brand":"Penguin Workshop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46300308439269,"sku":"NP9780593661284","price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780593661284.jpg?v=1767734608","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/penelope-and-the-curse-of-the-canis-diamond-2-isbn-9780593661284","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}