Pug Pals

The early chapter book is one of my favorite genres.  There's a lot more room for characterization and growth, and it's also a great transition for an emerging, reluctant, or established reader.  Yes, it's for everyone. 

Pug Pals: Two's a Crowd by Flora Ahn is a real stand-out in the early chapter book genre. Pug Pals starts out with a look at the day-to-day in a pug's life (Sunny) as she navigates snacking, playing with her prized bunny toy, and watching her favorite detective show.  Throw in a newly adopted sibling and we've got ourselves the perfect book conflict.

Sunny's new sibling, Rosy, is a pain of course.  But, just like with all sibling rivalries,  Sunny must find a way to make it work. And she definitely makes it work when they go on an adventure to get back Mr. Bunny who has...<ahem>...gone missing due to something Rosy may or may not have done.  Sound familiar yet?

Ahn's drawings are cute and animated. Whether she's showing Sunny's yoga poses, or illustrating Sunny and Rosy getting into a Lucy-and-Ethel-type of predicament like getting stuck on a fence. In broad daylight. Right before school gets out.  IN NINJA GEAR! Yes, the pug siblings have a bit of a sitcom-like adventure, and yes <SPOILER ALERT>, it does all work out in the end.

We giggled and snorted our way through this book.  Though Little Lion and I read this one separately, it would make for a great read-aloud too.  I especially loved the references to Rosy attacking Sunny's drumsticks AKA her chubby pug legs.  Because of course she would munch on them!

An excerpt from Pug Pals by Flora Ahn, in which Sunny and Rosy are being Ninja Pugs.  This is one of my favorite scenes the novel.

Tell Dr. Bookworm!

Do you have a favorite sibling story that isn't too preachy?  Or a favorite early chapter book? Let me know in the comments.