THE GREAT PUPPYPALOOZA

Helping five stray dogs stay out of the clutches of Animal Control really keeps the residents of the Strathmore apartment building on their toes, paws, claws, talons…and suckers.

It’s a mission worthy of the type of rescue dog Butterbean yearns to be: hiding gruff Bruce and the four active puppies trailing him from beloved (but overwhelmed) Mrs. Food on the fourth floor, Mrs. Hates Dogs on Six, and the building’s other humans, all while also keeping the persistent, lurking dogcatcher at bay. With the help of confederates—including Chad the octopus, slithering out of the plumbing and eager to help give the obliging pooches cute makeovers, and Walt the white cat, who employs surprising computer skills to generate a printed flyer to pass out—finding them safe homes should be a snap, right? For series followers, the animals with recurring roles form an engaging ensemble with well-known quirks and foibles, while the ensuing mad scramble to carry another unlikely scheme to fruition and keeping at least some of the two-legged cast members in the dark entails the expected whirl of twists and narrow squeaks. The general tone may be comedic, but the issue of abandoned pets and a concurrent plotline involving a young resident and her deployed aunt add whiffs of more serious themes. Readers will wish to see more of Mottram’s illustrations, which are full of uncommonly winsome small animals.

More madcap, multispecies hijinks.