Dog Gone!

March 1, 2014

Gr 2-4-Billy and Jillian Crook want to be good Crooks instead of following in their dishonest parents' footsteps. They are being trained in the family business, so the twins must do their good deeds in secret. In the first book, their parents steal a monkey to train to pick pockets, much to the siblings' disapproval. In Dog Gone!, Billy and Jillian raise money for a dog shelter. However, their attempt to do something worthy goes wrong when their mom and dad plot to steal the TV star Poochie Smoochie. Using disguises, Jillian's problem-solving skills, and Billy's humor, the kids work together to return the stolen animals. Bizarre and comedic circumstances keep readers wondering what will happen next, and frequent black-and-white art adds to the fun. This humorous series will be a hit with early-chapter-book readers.-Sarah Polace, Cuyahoga Public Library System, OH

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2014
Billy and Jillian have frightening urges--to do good deeds! This isn't great since crime is their family's business. Hijinks abound in the first two adventures of this chapter book series as the twins try to return a stolen zoo monkey forced into pickpocketing and then a pilfered, high-ransom TV-star pooch. Cartoonlike black-and-white illustrations pair perfectly with the twins' harebrained schemes.

(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)