The Case of the Missing Family

September 1, 2010

Gr 1-3-Lackluster titles for early chapter-book readers. Poor Buddy. He's a sweet pup that has lost his family, specifically his best human friend, Kayla. He is adopted by Connor and his mother but the mysterious disappearance of his first family continues to haunt him. In Mixed-Up Mutts, Buddy must put aside his concern for Kayla and help two dogs who have been switched. The pugs, Jazzy and Muffin, look a lot alike so when they go to the same dog park one day, they accidentally return home with the wrong owners. Thanks to Buddy's quick thinking and his ability to get himself out of a number of tight spots, the dogs are reunited with their families. In Missing Family, Buddy is able to focus on his concern over the loss of his first family. He stows away in a moving van when he observes some mysterious people moving his old family's furniture. In the end, Buddy finds Kayla and her father but he's not allowed to stay with her and is eventually reunited with Connor. If you have young readers who absolutely love dogs, then they might be satisfied with this series. However, Mary Labatt's stories about Sam, the Dog Detective (Kids Can) are more satisfying.-Julie Shatterly, W.A. Bess Elementary School, Gastonia, NC

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2010
Grades 1-3 In this third installment of the Buddy Files, the adorable golden retriever is still trying to determine why his original owners havent returned to claim him. When he notices relatives clearing out the house, the pet detective embarks on a daring journey, putting his sleuthing skills to use and calling upon the canine Network to help him find his missing family. Effective twists and turns, humor, and the possibilities of becoming a school therapy dog and learning to read ease the bittersweet conclusion. Buddys burying of a valuable guarantees more interactions with both his old and new families and future mysteries to enjoy.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)