From School Library Journal
Gr 1-4-When Jan and Sarah notice a poster seeking the whereabouts of a puppy they had previously admired in the pet shop and unofficially named Patch, they go to the home of the animal's owner and meet the boy who lives there. New in town, Carl is upset about the loss of his puppy that he calls Spot. The friends take on the role of detective, and Carl accompanies them on their quest for the dog. After imagining that Patch has been dognapped, the girls trail a suspect, but then discover his innocence. In the end, the boy and his dog are reunited. The first noticeable oddity of this book is the strange picture on the cover-Jan looks like a 35-year-old woman with erect bilateral ponytails, a hairstyle maintained throughout the book. Sarah and Carl also look too old for their supposed ages. Intended for beginning chapter-book readers or reluctant older readers, the book has large print, a lively pace, and an engaging plot. However, the story is told in the present tense although the narrator is describing past events, creating an awkward style. The children's tenacity in finding the missing pet is admirable, but there is little evidence of deductive reasoning, as found in David Adler's "Cam Jansen" series (Viking) or Donald Sobol's "Encyclopedia Brown" books (Bantam). Also, those two series have better character development and better stylistics, making them more logical choices.-Lynda Ritterman, Atco Elementary School, NJ
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
"Many people will find the story strikes a chord, and it is cleanly written with some nice humorous touches. The dialogue is also very good. The illustrations are also detailed and lively and work very well with the text." (
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"For young readers who know what it is like to have an unfulfilled dream, this tale will ring true. This chapter book is kept upbeat by humorous plot turns and superb comic illustrations. Highly recommended." (
Canadian Book Review Annual )
