Homeward Bounds: Adventures and the Glories of HOME

Hi!

     After a few days without Allison - she left me to go on an adventure to someplace called New Hampshire - we're back together again. I was a little confused when I would go to sleep and she wasn't there, but now she has lots of stories to tell me! Allison visited her friend Amy, went to a Mexican restaurant in a big city, and saw a movie called Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. New places, new food, friends! Exciting! Woof!

     Of course, I reminded Allison that we still have a lot of territory to explore nearer home. There are those strange cooing pigeons to chase, friends like Holly and Chance to visit, and endless trees and shrubs to sniff. Laughing, Allison ruffled the fur around my ears and assured me that she wouldn't be adventuring without me again for awhile. At this, I let my tongue loll happily and started a game of chase-me-look-you-can't-catch-me-if-I-dive-under-the-couch. Minutes later, satisfied and panting hard, I settled in Allison's room for a bit of reading. This next book is about a dog - a little like me with his big paws and big curiosity - who loves to explore.  

  

Click me for more on the author.

Marjorie Flack's Angus and the Ducks details the adventures of a Scottish terrier named Angus. One day Angus decides to explore more of the world beyond his home and his couch - to eventually find that while adventures are grand, it's always great to have a house and family to come home to. Human-pups will love Angus' fiesty determination and all that he encounters on his day out (including ducks!). The old-fashioned illustrations are what Allison calls "elegant," and Angus' curiosity highlights the kinds of questions human-pups might have about their world. One paw up for this Prek-K read. Ruff! You may also want to check out Angus Lost and Angus and the Cat by this author!  

 Lots of questions and reflections; a curious pup wants answers!

Whew! I'm dog-tired from that game and that reading. I think I'll go curl up under Allison's night table. She's promised me a new adventure for tomorrow, so I'd better rest up! In any case, I'm glad she's home. Arooooooo!

Ever curious, but loving Home,

Sam I Am

Dum Dee Dum Dum: Some Mysteries are Just Ducky

Hi!

     Yesterday my humans took me to a place called Warren. I liked it very much; the fire hydrants are painted funny and everything smells a bit fishy. Even in this doggone summer heat I had fun!

Here I am waiting for Rachel and Suz outside a shop. 

     Usually I get a little sad when I'm not allowed in stores with my humans, but this time I decided to practice my detective skills. Tongue out to help me think, I kept my eyes open and my nose in the air. You have to pay  close attention when you're trying to solve a mystery. Anything might be a clue or an answer to a question! Ruff!

    

     As it was, I saw quite a few odd things. One human-pup walked by with a whole bottle of stuff that Allison called "Mountain Dew." He must have been thirsty because he was the only one lapping from that great big bottle - and he was wearing a shirt that matched it! I also found a tree with what looked like giant painted chew toys on ropes hanging on it. 

     

     "Buoys," Allison said. "Humans put them in the water to catch lobster."

    

     Lobster? What was a lobster? A kind of water-loving dog? 

    

     "Lobsters are little red animals with hard shells," she continued. "Humans cook them, then crack them open to eat them." She made a face, showing that this thing called "lobster" is definitely not one of her favorite foods. 

      We passed by the lobster-buoy tree, and after that I decided to follow my nose. My nose, twitching like crazy, smelled salt or fish or something. Tugging Allison toward the smell, I trotted off. And found a bay! More water! Aroooooo!

Detectives are good at finding things; the bay wasn't lost, but I found it anyway!  

       Later I spotted a funny man on something called a moped, met a nice black lab named PJ, and stopped in at Jack's Bar for a biscuit and some water. Everyone is so friendly to me! I guess they can sense what a smart pup - a detective in training no less!- I am...

     My latest mystery book is about not a dog, but a duck who solves mysteries:

Click me for more on the author.

 Having only seen ducks from a distance so far (Allison says I am NOT allowed to chomp on the mallards in the park nearby), I didn't know what to make of The Web Files. I chew on Mr. Squeaky Duck at least once a day, but he has never tried to question a bad guy or look for clues. Unless he does it when I'm not looking...

But I do keep him on a pretty short leash.

So these ducks - themselves kind of mysterious - are what you would call "farm police." In this tale by Margie Palatini, illustrated by Richard Egielski, the hero and his friend Bill must track down a stolen peck of perfect purple pickled peppers. What I find strange is that after every part of the ducks' case, the author has written "DUM DEE DUM DUM" in bold print. Why? Allison says that this - along with phrases like "the usual suspects" and "dirty rat" - refers back to an old television show called Dragnet. When we first read it aloud, Daddy (who Allison says used to love detective/cop shows) laughed out loud and helped us with the "dum dee dum dum" parts. I think this means that some grown-up humans will like this book as much as the human-pups will!

A tongue-twisting (Allison's tongue had trouble with some of the "perfect pickled purple peppers") mix of nursery characters and crime drama, I give this book two paws up. The illustrations of the ducktective duo make the story even more funny - and little human-pups will jump to follow the adventure with gleeful "dum dee dum dums." Personally, I woofed softly along as I rooted for the ducks in their barnyard quest for missing vegetables. Sure to make parents and human-pups ages 4-8 laugh! 

     As of right now, this puptective is off-duty. There's plenty of time tomorrow for more practice - and more reading! Now where did I last see Mr. Squeaky Duck...

 Yours in Quacking Crimes,

Sam I Am