What do you think?
Rate this book
Lily to the Rescue! #3
Lily to the Rescue: The Not-So-Stinky Skunk
An irresistible chapter book series from the New York Times bestselling author of A Dog's Purpose Puppy Tales featuring Lily, a rescue dog who rescues other animals!
Lily lives with her girl, Maggie Rose. Once a stray, Lily was rescued by the kind people at the animal shelter run by Maggie Rose’s mom. Now she has a very important purpose: to rescue other animals in trouble.
On a camping trip with Maggie Rose’s dad, Lily gets sprayed by a skunk. But the skunk has no stink! That means it can’t defend itself against big animals. Can Lily find a way to help? It’s Lily to the rescue!
More Puppy Tales for young readers by W. Bruce Cameron:
Lily to the Rescue
Lily to the Rescue: Two Little Piggies
Bailey’s Story
Ellie’s Story
Max’s Story
Molly’s Story
Shelby’s Story
Toby’s Story
Lily’s Story
Lily lives with her girl, Maggie Rose. Once a stray, Lily was rescued by the kind people at the animal shelter run by Maggie Rose’s mom. Now she has a very important purpose: to rescue other animals in trouble.
On a camping trip with Maggie Rose’s dad, Lily gets sprayed by a skunk. But the skunk has no stink! That means it can’t defend itself against big animals. Can Lily find a way to help? It’s Lily to the rescue!
More Puppy Tales for young readers by W. Bruce Cameron:
Lily to the Rescue
Lily to the Rescue: Two Little Piggies
Bailey’s Story
Ellie’s Story
Max’s Story
Molly’s Story
Shelby’s Story
Toby’s Story
Lily’s Story
144 pages, Paperback
Published September 29, 2020
29 people are currently reading
262 people want to read
About the author
W. Bruce Cameron
101 books4,510 followersI’ve always loved dogs, which puts me in a unique category along with what, maybe two or three billion people?
What’s not to love about an animal who will sit in your living room all day long, waiting for you to get home, and even if you need to work late and then stop for a stress-relieving beverage on your way home, when you unlock that front door, is absolutely overjoyed to see you? How could you not adore an animal who senses when your day is not going well and tries to cheer you up by dumping a sodden tennis ball in your lap?
I was probably 8 years old, playing in the back yard of our house in Prairie Village, KS, when my dad opened the gate and in rushed a 9-week-old Labrador puppy. I fell to my knees and spread my arms and that dog leaped into them as if we had loved each other our whole lives. It’s a scene that shows up in A Dog’s Purpose—a puppy and a boy meeting each other the very first time, both of them full of unrestrained joy.
We named the dog Cammie. She arrived in my life when I was just beginning to connect some of the dots in my memory to make a picture of who I was, forming my identity as a child. I remember every skinned knee and bicycle ride in the context of Cammie, who was always there for me. And I lost her just as I was starting to leave childhood behind, passing on after I’d spent a year in college. That’s Cammie, the dog of my childhood.
Years later I was riding my bicycle in the mountains outside of Pine, CO. A chance decision to bounce down a dirt road led me past a few scattered ranches and one small house near a creek, set back from the road at least 50 yards. A single “woof” from a dog caught my attention, and I braked and stood in the dry, clear air, regarding the dog who had called out to me.
She was on a chain by the house, and a fence stood between us, so I remained on the road even though I could see that the dog, a black lab mix with a crazily active tail, was clearly friendly. I gazed at her and the dog sat, attentive, staring into my eyes exactly the way my first dog, Cammie, used to look at me, really seeing into me.
And that’s when the thought hit me. What if this wonderful dog was Cammie? What if dogs live over and over again, and always remember us?
I dismissed the thought, waved at the dog, and rode away, but days later the idea came back to me. What if?
I’ve been a writer my whole life, but never have I ever written anything as important as A Dog’s Purpose.
I can’t promise you that A Dog’s Purpose will make you love your dog more—how could it do that? But I’ll tell you what a lot of people have told me: after reading A Dog’s Purpose, you’ll never look at your dog the same way again.
What’s not to love about an animal who will sit in your living room all day long, waiting for you to get home, and even if you need to work late and then stop for a stress-relieving beverage on your way home, when you unlock that front door, is absolutely overjoyed to see you? How could you not adore an animal who senses when your day is not going well and tries to cheer you up by dumping a sodden tennis ball in your lap?
I was probably 8 years old, playing in the back yard of our house in Prairie Village, KS, when my dad opened the gate and in rushed a 9-week-old Labrador puppy. I fell to my knees and spread my arms and that dog leaped into them as if we had loved each other our whole lives. It’s a scene that shows up in A Dog’s Purpose—a puppy and a boy meeting each other the very first time, both of them full of unrestrained joy.
We named the dog Cammie. She arrived in my life when I was just beginning to connect some of the dots in my memory to make a picture of who I was, forming my identity as a child. I remember every skinned knee and bicycle ride in the context of Cammie, who was always there for me. And I lost her just as I was starting to leave childhood behind, passing on after I’d spent a year in college. That’s Cammie, the dog of my childhood.
Years later I was riding my bicycle in the mountains outside of Pine, CO. A chance decision to bounce down a dirt road led me past a few scattered ranches and one small house near a creek, set back from the road at least 50 yards. A single “woof” from a dog caught my attention, and I braked and stood in the dry, clear air, regarding the dog who had called out to me.
She was on a chain by the house, and a fence stood between us, so I remained on the road even though I could see that the dog, a black lab mix with a crazily active tail, was clearly friendly. I gazed at her and the dog sat, attentive, staring into my eyes exactly the way my first dog, Cammie, used to look at me, really seeing into me.
And that’s when the thought hit me. What if this wonderful dog was Cammie? What if dogs live over and over again, and always remember us?
I dismissed the thought, waved at the dog, and rode away, but days later the idea came back to me. What if?
I’ve been a writer my whole life, but never have I ever written anything as important as A Dog’s Purpose.
I can’t promise you that A Dog’s Purpose will make you love your dog more—how could it do that? But I’ll tell you what a lot of people have told me: after reading A Dog’s Purpose, you’ll never look at your dog the same way again.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 2, 2022
First sentence: "Lily, Lily, Lily!" Maggie Rose said to me. "We're going camping, Lily!" Maggie Rose is my girl, and I am her dog. When she is happy, I am very happy. When she is excited, I am very excited. She was obviously excited and happy at this moment, so I jumped up to put my feet on her knees and then dropped down to run in circles around the kitchen. Whatever was going on, it was the best!
Premise/plot: Maggie Rose and her dad are going on a special father-daughter camping trip (and bringing Lily, of course). He'll be working, in part, relocating prairie dogs. But this qualifies as quality family time as well. On the trip, Lily encounters a not-stinky skunk. She is NOT sprayed. The dad realizes this skunk needs help because without the ability to spray the skunk will be helpless when it comes to defense. So with a little help from Lily they rescue the skunk and take her to a safe place.
My thoughts: I really love Lily. I do. I love the narrative voice of Lily in these early chapter books. (Animal fantasy if you want to be super specific). I love seeing the world through a dog's perspective. Lily is super cute and adorable.
I definitely recommend the series as a whole. This would be a great series to read with your young readers.
Premise/plot: Maggie Rose and her dad are going on a special father-daughter camping trip (and bringing Lily, of course). He'll be working, in part, relocating prairie dogs. But this qualifies as quality family time as well. On the trip, Lily encounters a not-stinky skunk. She is NOT sprayed. The dad realizes this skunk needs help because without the ability to spray the skunk will be helpless when it comes to defense. So with a little help from Lily they rescue the skunk and take her to a safe place.
My thoughts: I really love Lily. I do. I love the narrative voice of Lily in these early chapter books. (Animal fantasy if you want to be super specific). I love seeing the world through a dog's perspective. Lily is super cute and adorable.
I definitely recommend the series as a whole. This would be a great series to read with your young readers.
May 2, 2021
The Lily to the Rescue series has my 6 year old son hooked!
Lily is a rescue dog (read about her adoption story in Lily's Story) who lives with her girl, Maggie Rose, Maggie's parents and two brothers. The family works and volunteers at a local rescue organization, saving all sorts of creatures. Each book in this series features one of these unusual events. Adorably so, Lily has a knack for making the most anxious of creatures feel at ease. In this book, Maggie, her dad and Lily discover a powerless, stink-less skunk while camping and must find a home where it can be safe in its defenseless state.
At a shorter length than Cameron's series of "Story" books, it brings these animal tales to a younger audience. They make for great read alouds, as the chapters are on the shorter end, providing access to younger children. I'd recommend them for read alouds in Grades 1 and up, and as independent reading starting in Grade 2.
Lily is a rescue dog (read about her adoption story in Lily's Story) who lives with her girl, Maggie Rose, Maggie's parents and two brothers. The family works and volunteers at a local rescue organization, saving all sorts of creatures. Each book in this series features one of these unusual events. Adorably so, Lily has a knack for making the most anxious of creatures feel at ease. In this book, Maggie, her dad and Lily discover a powerless, stink-less skunk while camping and must find a home where it can be safe in its defenseless state.
At a shorter length than Cameron's series of "Story" books, it brings these animal tales to a younger audience. They make for great read alouds, as the chapters are on the shorter end, providing access to younger children. I'd recommend them for read alouds in Grades 1 and up, and as independent reading starting in Grade 2.
April 13, 2024
Again, cute story, cute pics. And I learned that a group of prairie dogs is a coterie & a group of skunks is a surfeit. I’m surprised it didn’t say what a baby skunk is called, tho, especially since that’s apparently what they found (kit); or that even baby skunks can spray, or that after a skunk sprays it needs time to “refill its tank”. It does give tips on what to do if your pet gets sprayed tho. This one is dedicated to Life is Better Rescue in Denver, Colorado.
A little contradiction with the last book tho: Lily wants to play with piglets but looovvves bacon (to eat!).
A little contradiction with the last book tho: Lily wants to play with piglets but looovvves bacon (to eat!).
March 27, 2025
My niece is learning to read. We are reading these books together at bedtime, and she reads the spoken dialogue of Maggie Rose. It’s working out so well!
She didn’t like this story as much as book 7 about the foxes though. I agree with her. It’s 2 stories smooshed into 1. The main story with the skunk is cute, but then there is some prairie dog nonsense thrown in seemingly for filler??? (Conjecture)
Still cute, just not the best.
She didn’t like this story as much as book 7 about the foxes though. I agree with her. It’s 2 stories smooshed into 1. The main story with the skunk is cute, but then there is some prairie dog nonsense thrown in seemingly for filler??? (Conjecture)
Still cute, just not the best.
March 16, 2021
Lily enjoys a camping trip and a scent-less shunk needs the help of the Rescue. Cute and enjoyable story for all especially animal lovers. Love the illustrations too!
May 20, 2021
Loved it! Cute book!
August 21, 2021
This was a nice, easy to read book. W. Bruce Cameron should make a series or a book about an Australian shepherd.
February 15, 2024
Cute story I read out loud for Juni. 🐶
March 27, 2024
I liked that there was a stinkless skunk.
December 31, 2025
It was all right a tiny bit boring for my taste but, other than that it was a pretty good book.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews