School Library Journal Review
Gr 1-3-Meet Pug. He lives with his best friend, Lady Miranda; her housekeeper; and two running footmen. Today, the two friends have been invited to go pedal boating. Lady Miranda dubs her canine pal Captain Pug. Being terrified of water, the dog isn't so thrilled. Soon Pug gets separated from Lady Miranda before he can become a real captain. He ends up on the adventure of his life, which involves picnic baskets, a bus, a rowing team, and even a girl in a dinghy. Meanwhile, Lady Miranda and her footmen are desperate to find Pug and look high and low to find him. Pug is a fun, engaging character, while Lady Miranda is caring and will remind young readers of Fancy Nancy and Eloise. The plot is simple but humorous. The text and illustrations are well balanced and will encourage children transitioning to chapter books. The illustrations are detailed and complement the text, adding depth and humor to the story. VERDICT Fans of dogs and animal adventures will have a hard time putting this one down.-Kira Moody, Whitmore Public Library, Salt Lake City © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
A dog with a fear of the water reluctantly embarks on an aquatic misadventure. Pug lives in a posh townhouse with his child guardian, the equally pampered Lady Miranda, where they gorge themselves on jam tarts and are attended to by footmen. A trip to the lake results in a series of unexpected diversions for Pug (whom Lady Miranda has dressed in a sea captain's outfit), as he gets separated from his young mistress, helps a team of rowers win a race, and sets sail with another girl. Newcomer James creates a quirky, mixed-up setting (the tale is set in the present day, yet Lady Miranda's footmen wear powdered wigs and cart her around in a sedan chair), and Ceulemans's airy pen-and-ink drawings, accented with peach and bright blue, draw out the story's physical comedy, particularly during a climactic helicopter rescue at the local swimming pool. Ages 6-9. (Mar.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.