One of my favorite genres and one that is the easiest for me to push aside is middle grade fiction. This year to make sure I get a little more children's and young adult fiction I thought I would designate the first Monday of every month Middle Grade Monday (though sometimes it doesn't end up working quite right) . While a lot of my picks this year are classics I am trying to branch out a little bit and read new or at least recent releases. This month's book is one that I only just recently discovered was actually a book!
Blurb: Pongo and Missis had a lovely life. With their human owners, the Dearlys, to look after them, they lived in a comfortable home in London with their 15 adorable Dalmatian puppies, loved and admired by all. Especially the Dearlys' neighbor Cruella de Vil, a fur-fancying fashion plate with designs on the Dalmatians' spotted coats! So, when the puppies are stolen from the Dearly home, and even Scotland Yard is unable to find them, Pongo and Missis know they must take matters into their own paws! The delightful children's classic adapted twice for popular Disney productions.
My Thoughts: I honestly had no idea that the movie was based on a book until a year or so ago when I discovered this at the library! Usually I expect a book and a movie to be incredibly different but this was one of those rare exceptions. It's been awhile since I've seen the movie but other then Perdita's character the book follows the movie pretty closely. However, because in the book we are actually inside the dogs' heads (mostly Pongo) we are seeing their thoughts which made me enjoy it all the more. This is a sweet simple story with some funny doggy moments and a few scenes are stolen by cats (Cruella DeVil's cat just may be my favorite character). For very young very sensitive readers this may have a few parts that are upsetting as it is made very clear just what Cruella plans to do with the puppies but the danger never comes too near.
This is a fun book for an animal lover and a great read aloud book. It's a simple story and a fast read with pretty great pacing. The different animals really have their own personalities and I really enjoyed it. I think my 9 year old would as well.
I can't tell you the number of times I would wake up with my then 7 year-old son asking me if I'd watch Dalmations. We'd curl up in a Dalmation sleeping bag and watch. Fun memories. I never did read the book though. You have me wan ting to do that now.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I knew this was a book either for a long time! It sounds like a lot of fun. :)
ReplyDeleteSounds great, it so long ago since I read it aloud to a class that I have forgotten most of it, but I know we enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteI loved this book. I borrowed it repeatedly from the library. I wish I had my own copy. I am surprised my father didn't buy it for me. 📚✨
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