An engaging and lighthearted addition to a solid series for early readers.
A dog and his flea companion engage in madcap adventures.
In the second volume of Carson’s early reader series following DoGoody, an Afghan hound, and his insect sidekick, Fleabins, the flea’s outfits are as fabulous as ever (including a “blue and yellow polka dot jumper with ‘Fleabins the Great at Play’ written on the front in pink rhinestones”). The mansion hidden beneath the doghouse is full of secrets, magic, and adventures, and good intentions often lead the pair astray. In the book’s first story, they try to adopt a baby bird and find an appropriate toy for it. The second story follows DoGoody to a dog costume contest, where he cares less about his over-the-top costume than about impressing his crush. The next entry finds DoGoody in pursuit of snacks after he turns up his nose at his healthy new dog food, with Fleabins providing less-than-helpful assistance. In the fourth story, DoGoody’s crush, Dumpling, moves in next door, and DoGoody’s attempt to impress her with a welcome gift turns into an opportunity for Fleabins to end up just as googly-eyed over Dumpling’s own flea partner. A rainy day drives the book’s final story, in which Fleabins keeps interrupting DoGoody’s nap before the two eventually find a way to spend the day together. Young readers will appreciate the zaniness of the stories—Carson keeps the conflicts low-stakes while maintaining age-appropriate tension. DoGoody and Fleabins go from one of the hidden mansion’s magical rooms to another (the Present Wrapping Room, the Grand Hall, the Dressing Room, and the Spy Room all offer imaginative possibilities for exploration and mischief) and operate in a world in which their human family members are of decidedly minor importance. The prose is appropriately pitched for confident early readers, with short paragraphs and a varied vocabulary. McKeon’s numerous black-and-white illustrations bring the stories to life, capturing both DoGoody’s voluminous fur and Fleabins’ distinctive sense of style.
An engaging and lighthearted addition to a solid series for early readers.Pub Date: Oct. 23, 2025
ISBN: 9798991458542
Page Count: 91
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: Jan. 5, 2026
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
This outing lacks the sophistication of such category standards as Clementine; here’s hoping English amps things up for...
A gentle voice and familiar pitfalls characterize this tale of a boy navigating the risky road to responsibility.
Gavin is new to his neighborhood and Carver Elementary. He likes his new friend, Richard, and has a typically contentious relationship with his older sister, Danielle. When Gavin’s desire to impress Richard sets off a disastrous chain of events, the boy struggles to evade responsibility for his actions. “After all, it isn’t his fault that Danielle’s snow globe got broken. Sure, he shouldn’t have been in her room—but then, she shouldn’t be keeping candy in her room to tempt him. Anybody would be tempted. Anybody!” opines Gavin once he learns the punishment for his crime. While Gavin has a charming Everyboy quality, and his aversion to Aunt Myrtle’s yapping little dog rings true, little about Gavin distinguishes him from other trouble-prone protagonists. He is, regrettably, forgettable. Coretta Scott King Honor winner English (Francie, 1999) is a teacher whose storytelling usually benefits from her day job. Unfortunately, the pizzazz of classroom chaos is largely absent from this series opener.
This outing lacks the sophistication of such category standards as Clementine; here’s hoping English amps things up for subsequent volumes. (Fiction. 6-9)Pub Date: Dec. 17, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-547-97044-8
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: Oct. 1, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Having put together a band with renowned cousin Duck Ellington and singer “Bee” Holiday, Rooster’s chances sure look...
Winning actually isn’t everything, as jazz-happy Rooster learns when he goes up against the legendary likes of Mules Davis and Ella Finchgerald at the barnyard talent show.
Having put together a band with renowned cousin Duck Ellington and singer “Bee” Holiday, Rooster’s chances sure look good—particularly after his “ ‘Hen from Ipanema’ [makes] / the barnyard chickies swoon.”—but in the end the competition is just too stiff. No matter: A compliment from cool Mules and the conviction that he still has the world’s best band soon puts the strut back in his stride. Alexander’s versifying isn’t always in tune (“So, he went to see his cousin, / a pianist of great fame…”), and despite his moniker Rooster plays an electric bass in Bower’s canted country scenes. Children are unlikely to get most of the jokes liberally sprinkled through the text, of course, so the adults sharing it with them should be ready to consult the backmatter, which consists of closing notes on jazz’s instruments, history and best-known musicians.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-58536-688-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Review Posted Online: July 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2011
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