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Barking up the Wrong Tree

Philip Ardagh - Author

Elissa Elwick - Author

A comic detective adventure follows Sally and Fetch as they tackle mysteries, often getting the wrong end of the stick. Their investigations bring slapstick confusion and unintended destruction.

More about this book

Meet Sally Stick and her dog (and best friend) Fetch. Together, they're Stick and Fetch: Detectives. A girl. A dog. A detective agency. Sally loves nothing more than investigating a good mystery - and her shaggy canine companion Fetch loves nothing more than to be at her side when she does. There's just one small problem: they always gets the wrong end of the stick! The hapless pair remain undeterred, however, dashing from one crime scene to another on their bicycle, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake, yet always emerging blissfully unaware. A fun, madcap trio of stories featuring two loveable heroes with a LOT of hair.

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Book Analysis

At a Glance

Discover

Mystery· ExplainedMisunderstanding· ExplainedComedy· Explained

Consider

Violence and harmViolence

Personalised Fit

Beyond the Cover

mysterymisunderstandingcomedyconsequencesslapstick

FictionIllustrated book

Themes in Context

Mistaken detective work

Sally and Fetch investigate mysteries but repeatedly get the wrong end of the stick, remaining undeterred as they move from one case to another.Exploratory / explanatory

How the book presents it: The book presents this mainly as information or explanation.

Talk about: What clues might Sally and Fetch have missed, and how did you notice?

Unintended destruction

As the detectives dash between crime scenes on their bicycle, they leave a trail of destruction and seem unaware of it.Provisional reading

Talk about: If others are affected by the damage, how do Sally and Fetch respond?

Why It May Be Worth Reading

The appeal lies in the mismatched detective partnership: Sally enjoys solving mysteries, while Fetch is her devoted companion. The trio of stories promises recurring comic mishaps rather than a single extended case.

What Deserves Attention

The investigations involve crime scenes and the pair leave a trail of destruction.

A Conversation Worth Having

If Sally and Fetch keep misunderstanding their cases, what do you think helps them carry on investigating?

Reading Approach

Try one story together, pausing to spot what Sally and Fetch may have misunderstood. Afterwards, talk about whether their mishaps feel funny and how the damage affects others.

Confidence & Basis

Theme indicators describe how the book presents a topic; they are not a verdict on the whole book or your family's values. Confidence reflects how much book-specific material was checked. Only part of the book information was available, so some details remain unconfirmed.

What remains unconfirmed

Mistaken detective work: The stories follow Sally and Fetch as they pursue mysteries despite repeated misunderstandings.
Unintended destruction: Sally and Fetch appear unaware of the trail of destruction they leave behind.

Barking Up the Wrong Tree - Philip Ardagh - Google Books

Limited information

Checked: 1 October 2026.

Relevant to: Mistaken detective work; Unintended destruction

Barking up the Wrong Tree by Philip Ardagh | Open Library