Even before completing her studies, Mrs. R. is asked to defend her friend, Pitter-Patter, who’s accused of a heinous crime: Intentional Destruction of a Stuffed Animal. Mrs. R. knows the gentle Great Dane is innocent and begins gathering evidence, all while hoping that she can pass the bar before the trial date. Flanagan infuses elements of a legal thriller with sly humor and a delightfully dog-centric perspective, crafting a distinctive protagonist in Mrs. R., who spends her days being pampered and praised but learns about the law and participates in trials at the Bark Park to expand her horizons beyond an idyllic routine of fun frolics and tasty treats.
Jon Davis’s black-and-white illustrations have the wry expressiveness of the work of Roz Chast, especially the gallery of canines whose personalities are captured in pithy profile. Flanagan skillfully embeds her lessons (accepting responsibility and following through on commitments) in this engaging series debut, and when Mrs. R. returns to represent more clients and solve new mysteries, this prideful pup should also continue to mature. Mrs. R. possesses an Elle Woods blend of legal prowess and waggish charm, and her newfound need to be an advocate for others will inspire young readers to look beyond their comfort zones.
Takeaway: A self-involved dog becomes a lawyer in this picture-book charmer.
Great for fans of: Jennifer Gray’s Atticus Claw Breaks the Law, Jennifer Hawkins’s To Fetch a Felon, and Vicki Milliken’s Jobs for Paws.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-
This early chapter book tells the story of an unusual attorney who may get distracted by cheese, but also is great at sniffing out some important evidence! The book is quirky and describes the world from the perspective of a dog, something that children often find really hilarious! This book is a total of about 85 pages, with 15 short chapters, each about 5 pages long. The short chapters and black and white illustrations will help readers who are ready to move on to longer texts but are not quite ready to go without pictures just yet, making this the perfect transitionary book for early and middle grade readers. I could definitely see this book fitting in well in my classroom library and would highly recommend this book to parents and teachers of children in the age 8-12 range. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book!
I fell in love with the cover and had a lot of fun in reading this book. It's written tongue in cheek and it can be appreciated by adults and children.
There's a lot of humour, a lovely canine MC, and a plot that flows.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Written from the point of view of a big-hearted, sassy retriever, Mrs. R. Snugglesworth, Attorney-at-Law is a hilarious dog’s-eye exploration of family, friendship, and problem-solving. Author Amy Flanagan’s responses to these interview questions showcase exactly why kids are loving this book. Read on!
This book will have special appeal to any readers who have ever found themselves wondering what their pet is thinking; in fact, a good supplemental activity for the classroom might encourage readers to tell a short story about their own pet, or a pet they know. A winning combination of elementary detective mystery and pet humor worthy of top dog honors.
Where did you get the inspiration for the character Mrs. R. Snugglesworth?
You will not be surprised to learn that we have a female, yellow English lab. She is delightfully stocky and we have entertained ourselves through the years imagining what she is thinking.
Written from the point of view of a big-hearted, sassy retriever, Mrs. R. Snugglesworth is a hilarious dog’s-eye exploration of family, friendship, and problem-solving.
"Aren't you a Mrs. Snugglesworth. . ."
