In Carson’s romp-rousing series debut, Sir DoGoody Button, an Afghan hound, and his best friend, a trouble-making flea named Fleabins, unwittingly cause all kinds of mayhem for DoGoody's human family, the Buttons. The Buttons may not realize it, but their beloved canine's doghouse doubles as a luxurious doggy mansion, complete with a state-of-the-art Spy Room, an Amusement Park Room with a merry-go-round, and more. As much as DoGoody attempts to keep his best pal Fleabins contained inside—because whenever he gets out it "always leads to trouble"—Fleabins finds inventive ways to leave DoGoody's mansion and come to the aid—unnecessarily, more times than not—of his beloved friend.Carson offers younger readers entertaining characters who, while attempting to solve problems, tend to create more—a charming, humorous mix that tosses them into a sea of unlikely quests. From finding "lost" library books to crashing their way into an upscale tea party, DoGoody and Fleabins are an exuberant pair with the best of intentions, though their shenanigans cause more harm than good (thankfully, the pair always try to fix their mistakes in the end). Though Fleabins wreaks havoc outside in the real world—such as driving DoGoody's off-limits car and busting a pack of dogs out of dog training school or planting a kiss on the bride at a wedding he’s not invited to—DoGoody tends to take the blame, thanks to Fleabins conveniently shrinking from the size of a chimpanzee to the true scale of a flea whenever he leaves DoGoody Mansion.
Shannon McKeon’s black and white illustrations hum with energy, showcasing DoGoody trying to tame his lively best friend while Fleabins marches, carefree and untroubled, through heaps of self-made problems. The hijinks are brilliantly crafted to leave children laughing while also creating suspense, as they predict what sticky situations these two lovable characters will get into next. These two are a winning pair.
Takeaway: A mild-mannered canine tries to keep his chaotic best friend in line.
Comparable Titles: Luvvie Ajayi Jones's Little Troublemaker Makes A Mess, David Shannon's No David!
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
