  | Full Text Reviews: Booklist - 01/01/2010 This first installment in a new trilogy for early readers introduces a dog whose first family went away and never returned. Buddy ended up in the pound, where he was adopted by a boy, Connor, and his mom, who coincidently live in his old neighborhood. Buddy, who enjoyed sleuthing with his original owner, is now trying to solve the mystery of his missing family, a mission he will pursue throughout the series. First, though, he has an immediate problem to solve: Connor has disappeared. Buddy tries to find him, relying on methodical reasoning and unexpected assistance from a cat who can read. The story moves quickly to its obvious conclusion, but unanswered questions will propel readers to the series’ second title. Particularly well drawn are scenes in which Buddy tries to overcome dog-to-human communication obstacles, the numerous distractions of delicious smells, and Connor’s reluctance to love Buddy as he deals with changes in his own life. With twists and turns, humor, and a likable canine character, this series should find a wide fan base. - Copyright 2010 Booklist. School Library Journal - 02/01/2010 Gr 2–3— King, a golden retriever detective, has lost his owners. When their Uncle Marty takes him to the pound, he is determined to find them. Things seem to be going his way when he discovers that the new family that adopts him lives right behind his people's house. His mission takes a detour, however, when his new boy, Connor, disappears while taking him for a walk. Now King must outrun humans, decode strange cat messages, and track down Connor's eggs, bacon, toothpaste, and dirt smell to solve the case. The type is large, the text is easy, and the occasional black-and-white illustrations complement the text well. The clues are unique and true to the fact that a dog is telling the story. The addition of paw prints used as bullet points in King's lists of what he knows about the case and chapter headings with titles like "Nose to the Ground" add to this involving story. Fans of dog stories, mysteries, or readers reluctant to start chapter books will appreciate this story.—Kira Moody, Hunter Public Library, West Valley City, UT - Copyright 2010 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Bulletin for the Center... - 04/01/2010 “My name is King. I’m a dog. I’m also a detective.” So begins this first title in a planned mystery series, narrated by a wannabe-sleuth golden retriever. The book starts out with our hero already in trouble: he’s in the pound, left there by an uncaring dogsitter when his family goes away. Adopted by a boy named Connor and his mother, he’s renamed “Buddy”; our hero still hopes to uncover what happened to his former family, but that mystery is soon overshadowed when Connor takes his new dog for a walk and then disappears. The doggy point-of-view is entertaining, with people identified largely by their salient smells (the canine gossip pipeline identifies Connor as smelling of “eggs, bacon, toothpaste, and dirt”), and the underlying human story of Connor’s unhappiness about being unwillingly relocated mirrors our detective’s dilemma. There are some startling variations in tone, however, as a result of plot elements such as Connor’s possible abduction (there’s even a creepy guy to suspect, though it turns out to be a mistake) and King’s rejection and abandonment, which make Connor’s family seem like a diversion from the dog’s real home. The interpolated lists analyzing the steps of the mystery may add clarity, but they slow down the pace. Loose-lined monochromatic illustrations, which recall Suçie Stevenson’s in Rylant’s Henry and Mudge books, appear occasionally and add energy when they do. Some of the glitches may be less problematic in the context of the overall series, and in the meantime, kids moving up from Nolan’s Down Girl and Sit (BCCB 11/04) but not yet ready for Finney’s I, Jack (BCCB 4/04) may wish to sign on as the gumshoe’s-gumpaw’s?-sidekick. DS - Copyright 2010 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. Loading...
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