Pug & Doug

December 17, 2012
A misunderstanding pushes a canine friendship to the brink in this quietly
humorous story from Breen (The Secret of Santa’s Island). Best pals Pug and Doug know well each other’s strengths and shortcomings (“Doug was artistic. Pug not so much,” writes Breen, showing Doug sculpting a passable version of Rodin’s The Thinker out of snow, while Pug’s snowman is a misshapen mutant). Lovers of polka music and bird-watching, they have always successfully navigated any bumps in their relationship, but when Doug finds a shared memento in Pug’s trashcan and spies a diary entry that reads, “I’m really sick of old Doug,” he’s thrown for a loop. Doug leaves Pug an “I’m sorry we can’t be friends anymore” note, and while Pug is initially baffled,
he quickly figures out what happened and goes full bore trying to set things right. Breen juggles a variety of engaging perspectives throughout his mixed-media compositions, including occasional comic strip–style panel sequences. Readers will recognize the ebb and flow of friendship and the importance of clear communication—especially when it comes to half-finished diary entries about old doughnuts. Ages 3–5. Agent: Teresa Kietlinski, Prospect Agency.

December 15, 2012
How can two best friends that have a lot in common come to terms with their differences and resolve a huge misunderstanding? Leave it to these canine buddies to show how it is done. Pale yellow Pug and pastel purple Doug both enjoy munching on day-old doughnuts, dancing to polka music and greeting each other with "a secret pawshake," but they have unique personalities and preferences. Doug is artistic, imaginative and dramatic. Pug, not so much. In fact, "Doug thought that sometimes Pug could be a real stick-in-the-mud." But Pug is actually quite loyal, methodical and persistent. When Doug glimpses an unfinished entry in Pug's journal and misinterprets a few of Pug's earlier actions, his imagination leads him to believe that Pug does not like him anymore. Pug realizes what has happened and sets out with dogged determination to make things right and successfully plan a birthday surprise. Cartoonist Breen gets the pacing and tone just right. The layout features varied sets of panels along with a few dramatic full-bleed spreads executed in mixed media of watercolor, acrylics and colored pencil. This design enhances the reading experience by turning a gentle, humorous story into a bit of a page turner. Readers will relate to the bruised feelings, mistaken mix-ups, challenges and ultimate joys of best friendship. Let's just hope Pug and Doug return for more adventures. (Picture book. 4-6)

COPYRIGHT(2012) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

February 1, 2013

PreS-Gr 2-This sweet friendship tale imparts its message with gentle humor and minimal didacticism. Pups Pug and Doug are best friends. They like many of the same things, but Doug is sensitive and creative and Pug sometimes likes to be alone. One day Pug doesn't have time for Doug, and, through a series of misunderstandings, Doug decides that his pal is sick of him. When Pug comes by to bring Doug a birthday present, a parrot, he finds a good-bye note on the door. Understanding Doug's misinterpretations, Pug tracks down his friend and explains everything, Doug apologizes for jumping to conclusions, and the two reconcile. The straightforward story is imbued with humor that is underlined in the mixed-media illustrations, and the story lends itself well to reading aloud to a group. Purple Doug (a hound) and beige-and-brown Pug dress in clothes, live in houses, watch Jurassic Bark on TV, and read Hairy Potter. The cartoon-style illustrations move the story along well, with a mix of panels, single pages, and spreads. Educators looking for books on relationships and communication will find a lot to like in this pleasant addition.-Amy Lilien-Harper, The Ferguson Library, Stamford, CT

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2013
Preschool-G Despite their differences, down-to-earth Pug and imaginative Doug are canine best friends. They watch movies (and birds) together, have a secret pawshake, and can even tell when they are getting on each other's nerves. But then an odd chain of events leads Doug to assume the worstthat Pug no longer wants to be his BFF. When the misunderstanding comes to light, Pug searches the town for his dejected pal and reveals to him the real reason for his evasive behavior: he has been hiding his birthday present for Douga talking parrot named Buddy. This breezy tale of friendship gets its lift from a mix of happenstance and gentle humor, with the reunited pals agreeing to avoid hurt feelings in the future by always talking things over. Pulitzer Prizewinning cartoonist Breen uses a soft color palette; occasional panel sequences and visual gags; and affable, childlike characters to create a quirky, canine-populated world that will appeal to a wide audience, especially boys. A stinger ending proves that Doug's vivid imagination isn't always out of step with reality.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)