Not many secrets in Canada’s small literary community are as well kept as the identity of Teddy Jam. Rumour suggests that the person behind the pseudonym is a prominent Canadian writer known only by Groundwood’s publisher, Patsy Aldana. Whoever he is, his most recent book, ttuM, shows that Teddy Jam is one fine writer.

The main character of ttuM, Charlotte, was introduced in The Charlotte Stories a few years back. At that time, Charlotte was an engaging kindergarten pupil, and her stories were appropriately short with plenty of illustrations by Harvey Chan. Now, Charlotte has finished Grade 4 and ttuM has grown with her into a first novel. The chapters are not too long for newly independent readers, and Harvey Chan’s lively black and white illustrations make the transition from picture book even less painful.

The word ttuM is Mutt spelled backward, and much of the story centres on Charlotte’s acquisition of a mixed breed dog who likes backward talk and runs away. Charlotte’s world is safe. She is the only child of married parents; her best friend, Mimi, has been her friend for life; and she has no major anxieties. This territory of more or less happy children is given short shrift in contemporary children’s literature, and it is wonderful to see it handled so deftly here. Hitting a home run, learning to like a new teacher, and getting a dog may seem like insignificant events to adults, but this is the stuff that childhood is made of and ttuM explores these child-size problems with humour and grace. The plot does depend heavily upon coincidence, but this small flaw aside, ttuM fills a much-needed role by providing young readers with a transitional novel that is both wonderfully written and true to life.