Browsing the Beginning Chapter Books: Doggo and Pupper by Katherine Applegate, illustrated by Charlie Alder

Genre: Humorous stories; Animals

Protagonists: Animals, Male

Reading level: n/a

Series: Trilogy

Originally reviewed June 2021

Review: This quirky easy comic could work either as a beginning chapter or an intermediate early reader. Doggo, a scruffy, beige-colored mutt with black ears and tail, enjoys his settled routine. In cheerful rhyme he thinks through all the things he does from "book holder" to "squirrel scolder." Wilder activities happen when the humans are absent, like baking, playing the drums, and ballet. However, the humans have gotten the idea that Doggo is too settled and his life needs more "zip and zing."

Enter Pupper. Pupper, a small, pudgy, red-haired pup with black ears and tail to match Doggo, is always ready to play, get into trouble, and make a mess. But when he makes too big of a mess, the humans decide he needs to go to school. After Pupper's sojourn in Charm School, he's perfectly behaved, perfectly quiet, perfectly perfect. And, Doggo decides, perfectly boring. He misses the original Pupper and decides that maybe they both could use some adventure and a little zip and zing in their lives. One midnight trip later, the two have bonded and both appreciate the other a little more.

Splashy art is divided into panels, some wordless, some with simple speech balloons and a little additional narration. There's enough rhyming text to ease struggling readers along and many unexpected jokes and surprises in the art and story to keep them invested. While most readers at this level are unlikely to recognize Applegate's award-winning older titles, they're sure to recognize a good storyteller when they see one.

Verdict: Cute and sweet, this is sure to appeal to fans of Narwhal and Jelly, Elephant and Piggie, and other beginning chapter graphic novels. Recommended.

Revisited: There are more and more beginning chapter comics available now, but this gently humorous trilogy stands out as a must-have for most library collections.

ISBN: 9781250620972; Published March 2021 by Feiwel and Friends; Borrowed from another library in my consortium; Purchased for the library