Life in the Doghouse: Finn and the Feline Frenemy by Crystal Velasquez, illustrated by Laura Catrinella, inspired by Danny Robertson and Ron Danta

There is a plethora of beginning chapter series featuring animal shelters, rescues, and pets, and they are generally divided into two groups. The first, where the emphasis is on the kids/humans, includes series like Critter Club, My Furry Foster Family, Jasmine Green Rescues, Lulu by Hilary McKay, and older series like Animal Ark. The second, where the story is narrated by anthropomorphic animals, seems to be the new trend and includes series like Animal Inn, Adventures in Fosterland, Dr. Kitty Cat, Down Girl and Sit, and Pet Pals. This series belongs to the latter, being narrated by the rescued animal with commentary by his new owners.

 This is technically the fourth book in the series, but each one is a stand-alone since it goes with a different set of animals who have been rescued and are adjusting to life in their new home. This story focuses on Finn, a hound mix who has recently lost one of his hind legs. He is excited but nervous about going to live with the Figueroa family, especially when he discovers he's not the only pet. They already have a cat called Rusty, who also has three legs. However, Rusty is not the instant friend Finn had hoped for and between navigating life (and stairs) with three legs, trying to be a good dog, and adjusting to many new changes, Finn and Rusty will have to figure out how to work together instead of competing to be the favorite pet.

Robertson and Danta are a couple who run a rescue and each book is based on a true story of an animal they've saved and rehomed. The story behind the story is included in the back of the book, both the story of the "real" Finn and the friends who the Figueroa family is based on. Black and white illustrations are scattered throughout the book and it comes in at a little over 130 pages.

As far as accuracy goes, I was a bit skeptical - the family takes Finn home almost immediately after his surgery and their tween daughter seems to be handling most of his care with minimal input from the adults, who are understandably busy with an expected baby. The introduction of Finn and Rusty seemed very haphazard, and I would have thought in a real-life situation this would be much more involved, especially in a breed with a potentially high prey drive. Apart from the accuracy, the writing was rather stilted and didactic with lots of telling rather than showing.

However, writing quality isn't necessarily something I look at when purchasing beginning chapter books. I look for a popular subject, diversity in the protagonists, and compare with what else I have on the shelves. Animals are very popular, and the style of the book will be very familiar to kids who are used to watching or reading about real-life rescues. Most of the pictures feature the animals, but the family appears to be biracial with a diverse mix of friends. There's also the added element of the animals' disability, although I don't think that really translates well to the depiction of human disability in beginning chapter books (or any books) which is rare.

Verdict: If you are looking for more animal-themed books and have fans of the show this is based on, Life in the Doghouse, this is a good addition. It's likely to be very popular with readers who will devour this genre eagerly and has a touch of diversity.

ISBN: 9781534482708; Published February 2023 by Aladdin; Review copy provided by publisher