This series starter is a doggone good time.
Just what makes a good dog—or a bad one, for that matter?
Hugo, an eager and ever helpful golden retriever, wants nothing more than to make his family happy but fears they’ve become too busy to need him. Lulu the fashionista Yorkie aims to become one of the “greatest celebri-dogs on Instagram”—with just a little help from her human, of course. And though young border collie mix King is trying his best to become an agility dog, there are just so many exciting things to run off and smell! All three puppy pals are Good Dogs, and proud of it. But a new French bulldog who crashes their doggy day care outing leaves more chaos in his wake than a mere overturned hot dog cart. All agree: He’s a “VERY BAD DOG.” All also agree: That bad dog was having fun. When a series of mishaps leaves these good dogs on their own for a day, they immediately seek the interloper out, hungry for a taste of badness. Not to mention hot dogs. Equal parts hilarious and hair-raising, adventures abound, enlivened by expressive cartoon illustrations. The bright, energetic narration flows seamlessly among the dogs’ delightfully distinctive perspectives, although the second half of the novel feels a bit rushed. A salient underlying message espouses the power of friendship. Human characters are diverse—Hugo’s family is Latinx; Lulu’s owner is a Black celebrity; King’s owner presents White—but the focus is on the dogs. Sequel Good Dogs With Bad Haircuts publishes simultaneously.
This series starter is a doggone good time. (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: March 16, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-593-10844-4
Page Count: 208
Publisher: Putnam
Review Posted Online: Dec. 14, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2021
Hugely entertaining, timely, and triumphant.
Robot Roz undertakes an unusual ocean journey to save her adopted island home in this third series entry.
When a poison tide flowing across the ocean threatens their island, Roz works with the resident creatures to ensure that they will have clean water, but the destruction of vegetation and crowding of habitats jeopardize everyone’s survival. Brown’s tale of environmental depredation and turmoil is by turns poignant, graceful, endearing, and inspiring, with his (mostly) gentle robot protagonist at its heart. Though Roz is different from the creatures she lives with or encounters—including her son, Brightbill the goose, and his new mate, Glimmerwing—she makes connections through her versatile communication abilities and her desire to understand and help others. When Roz accidentally discovers that the replacement body given to her by Dr. Molovo is waterproof, she sets out to seek help and discovers the human-engineered source of the toxic tide. Brown’s rich descriptions of undersea landscapes, entertaining conversations between Roz and wild creatures, and concise yet powerful explanations of the effect of the poison tide on the ecology of the island are superb. Simple, spare illustrations offer just enough glimpses of Roz and her surroundings to spark the imagination. The climactic confrontation pits oceangoing mammals, seabirds, fish, and even zooplankton against hardware and technology in a nicely choreographed battle. But it is Roz’s heroism and peacemaking that save the day.
Hugely entertaining, timely, and triumphant. (author’s note) (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 26, 2023
ISBN: 9780316669412
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Aug. 26, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2023
A pleasing premise for book lovers.
A fantasy-loving bookworm makes a wonderful, terrible bargain.
When sixth grader Poppy Woodlock’s historic preservationist parents move the family to the Oregon coast to work on the titular stately home, Poppy’s sure she’ll find magic. Indeed, the exiled water nymph in the manor’s ruined swimming pool grants a wish, but: “Magic isn’t free. It cosssts.” The price? Poppy’s favorite book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. In return she receives Sampson, a winged lion cub who is everything Poppy could have hoped for. But she soon learns that the nymph didn’t take just her own physical book—she erased Narnia from Poppy’s world. And it’s just the first loss: Soon, Poppy’s grandmother’s journal’s gone, then The Odyssey, and more. The loss is heartbreaking, but Sampson’s a wonderful companion, particularly as Poppy’s finding middle school a tough adjustment. Hartman’s premise is beguiling—plenty of readers will identify with Poppy, both as a fellow bibliophile and as a kid struggling to adapt. Poppy’s repeatedly expressed faith that unveiling Sampson will bring some sort of vindication wears thin, but that does not detract from the central drama. It’s a pity that the named real-world books Poppy reads are notably lacking in diversity; a story about the power of literature so limited in imagination lets both itself and readers down. Main characters are cued White; there is racial diversity in the supporting cast. Chapters open with atmospheric spot art. (This review has been updated to reflect the final illustrations.)
A pleasing premise for book lovers. (Fantasy. 9-12)Pub Date: May 2, 2023
ISBN: 9780316448222
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Feb. 24, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2023
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