A Pet for Fly Guy

March 31, 2014
Buzz and Fly Guy’s enormous bug eyes loom all the larger in Arnold’s picture book spinoff. Harkening back to the pet-adoption theme of Hi! Fly Guy (2005), the first title in the author’s bestselling early chapter book series, this story brings Buzz and his pet to the park, where they see kids playing with unorthodox pets: one girl is toting her fish’s aquarium around in a red wagon, while another child has put on boots, thick gloves, and a helmet worthy of a welder in order to play with a porcupine. “No petz!” utters a forlorn Fly Guy, realizing his own lack of a pet and prompting Buzz to take him to a pet store. When none of the prospects there or back in the park fits the bill—a cat swats at him, and a (friendly) spider’s web is “too tangly”—Fly Guy hits on a solution that suits both fine (“Buzz iz petz!”). The high-spirited friendship between these ever-quirky buddies translates well into the picture-book format, which gives Arnold’s digital cartoons even more room to fly. Ages 4–8.

February 15, 2014
A boy and his pet fly, Fly Guy, learn that being a friend has lots of similarities to being a pet. Arnold, who has a knack for coaxing the best and the most unusual slant on friendship, brings back his old pal Fly Guy, the fly with really big eyes (even for a fly). Fly Guy and his chum, Buzz ("Fly Guy was the smartest pet in the whole world. He could say the boy's name--'BUZZ!' "--now that's one smart fly), decide to go to the park one day. At the park, they have a picnic (Buzz has a wicker basket; Fly Guy prefers the smorgasbord in the park trash can); they play around, look at the clouds, watch the other kids and their pets. Fly Guy gets a little blue. He hasn't got a pet of his own, so they go searching for one: cats and dogs (too big), frogs (maybe not), worms (slimy). Then a very little light bulb goes off in Fly Guy's very little brain: Buzz! Buzz can be Fly Guy's pet. Buzz is game, and if being someone's pet sounds a bit sketchy, think of it: Pets need companionship (well, maybe not cats), care, respect, dignity and entertainment. Or just call it a friend. Arnold's "Garfield"-like artwork is snappy, emotive and as colorful as a new car. Readers will agree that being a pet isn't a bad life, as long as you have a good pet keeper. (Picture book. 4-8)

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April 1, 2014

PreS-Gr 2-Fly Guy's latest adventure is in picture-book format. While on a picnic at the park, Buzz and Fly Guy watch people playing with their zany pets. It seems everyone has a pet...except Fly Guy. The two friends head to the pet shop but have no luck. They go back to the park and search some more, yet the right pet can't be found. After reexamining the type of pet Fly Guy really needs, they come to an excellent conclusion. This heartwarming story offers broad appeal. The highly demonstrative characters, with their oversize golf ball-like eyes, are pictured in one hilarious scene after another. The amazingly bright, layered watercolors with their colored-pencil "scribbles," outlined in black, offer a new richness to the illustrations not matched in the easy-reader format. This humorous selection is fun to read aloud but is also well designed for new readers. The simple text is well placed on each page, including occasional thought and speech bubbles that are easy to follow. Children who have enjoyed other books about Buzz and Fly Guy will love this one, too.-Gaye Hinchliff, King County Library System, WA

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