It’s a dog’s life and Fletcher, the detective-sniffing Bassett hound, has a better one than most. Third in the Fletcher Mystery series, this easy-to-read chapter book has humorous plays on words, silly situations, and an understandable mystery for its young readers to solve along with the dogs and their owners. Fletcher’s energetic, quick-talking flea friend Jasper delivers the laughs with the timing of a stand-up comedian, and Fletcher, in search of the perfect meat with a nap chaser, uses his sharp nose to help the humans solve the mystery. A new park is about to be dedicated and the kids come up with the idea of a masked ball—for the dogs. Sensing positive publicity, the park ranger and supporters embrace the idea, call the local press, and pull together the necessary ingredients for mask-making, dog style. But, from the very start, there is trouble and Gwen senses a conspiracy. Who destroyed the noses on the dogs’ masks? How about the frayed power lines that threatened to burn down a house? Why did the power switch get pulled right as the television crew started broadcasting? Not to fear, Fletcher and friends solve the mystery, celebrate the opening of the park, and meet some new friends along the way. Fletcher even meets a saucy little dachshund called Felicity. The masks might have gotten mixed up in the dark, but young readers will not be mixed up at all. The first-canine perspective, complete with rear-end sniffing, will have everyone howling. (Fiction. 7-10)
Pub Date: Jan. 1, 2003
ISBN: 0-689-84628-2
Page Count: 64
Publisher: Aladdin
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2003
Another winner from Mills, equally well suited to reading aloud and independent reading.
When Franklin School principal Mr. Boone announces a pet-show fundraiser, white third-grader Cody—whose lack of skill and interest in academics is matched by keen enthusiasm for and knowledge of animals—discovers his time to shine.
As with other books in this series, the children and adults are believable and well-rounded. Even the dialogue is natural—no small feat for a text easily accessible to intermediate readers. Character growth occurs, organically and believably. Students occasionally, humorously, show annoyance with teachers: “He made mad squinty eyes at Mrs. Molina, which fortunately she didn’t see.” Readers will be kept entertained by Cody’s various problems and the eventual solutions. His problems include needing to raise $10 to enter one of his nine pets in the show (he really wants to enter all of them), his troublesome dog Angus—“a dog who ate homework—actually, who ate everything and then threw up afterward”—struggles with homework, and grappling with his best friend’s apparently uncaring behavior toward a squirrel. Serious values and issues are explored with a light touch. The cheery pencil illustrations show the school’s racially diverse population as well as the memorable image of Mr. Boone wearing an elephant costume. A minor oddity: why does a child so immersed in animal facts call his male chicken a rooster but his female chickens chickens?
Another winner from Mills, equally well suited to reading aloud and independent reading. (Fiction. 7-10)Pub Date: June 14, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-374-30223-8
Page Count: 144
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Review Posted Online: March 15, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2016
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
The author of Babe, the Gallant Pig (1985) offers another winner with this tale of a bright pig and her canny young keeper “training” a spoiled princess. When Princess Penelope demands a pig for her eighth birthday, her over-indulgent father requires every pig keeper in the country to assemble with a likely porcine candidate. The princess settles on Lollipop, who turns out to be the sole possession of penniless orphan Johnny Skinner. As only Johnny can get Lollipop to sit, roll over, or poop outdoors, soon lad and pig are comfortably ensconced together in a royal stall—at least until the pig can be persuaded to respond to the Princess’s commands. It’s only the beginning of a meteoric rise for Johnny, and for Lollipop too, as the two conspire to teach the princess civilized manners, and end up great favorites of the entire royal family. Barton (Rattletrap Car, p. 504, etc.) captures Penelope’s fuming, bratty character perfectly in a generous array of line drawings, and gives Lollipop an expression of affectionate amusement that will win over readers as effortlessly as it wins over the princess and her parents. Move over, Wilbur. (Fiction. 8-10)
Pub Date: June 1, 2001
ISBN: 0-7636-1269-3
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2001
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