Captain Pug (Adventures of Pug #1)

by Laura James (Author) Églantine Ceulemans (Illustrator)

Captain Pug (Adventures of Pug #1)
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

On one very ordinary day Pug's nose knows that breakfast is on its way. And with breakfast, come crumbs - but not just any old crumbs, jam tart crumbs. Jam tarts are Pug's favorite food, and he loves nothing more than to share them with his best friend, Lady Miranda. But just before Pug can finish the last jam tart, Lady Miranda picks him up and whisks him away for a sea-faring adventure. Unfortunately for Pug, it turns out that water may be his biggest fear!

To avoid the water, Pug takes a well-timed snack break. But when his brief respite takes an unexpected turn, Pug will have to find his true Captain self and steer a path back home.

This delightful story of friendship is perfect for fans of Diva and Flea.

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Kirkus Reviews

Offers likable characters in sweet, devoted, and clueless Pug and his privileged young white mistress . . . their silly, simple adventure is sure to please young Anglophiles (and pugophiles). 

Booklist

This charming chapter book will delight young readers ready to tackle longer stories. The breezy tone and adventurous plot will keep the pages turning, while comical illustrations--accented with blue and red--add to the fun. This playful story is sure to make a splash with fans of Alex T. Smith's Claude books or Kate DiCamillo's Mercy Watson series. 

School Library Journal

Starred 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 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Publishers Weekly

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 2017 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes



Laura James

Laura James worked on projects including Veronica Guerin and Slumdog Millionaire before signing herself up for a MA in Writing for Young People at Bath Spa University, England. Her love of all things nautical comes from her dad, a retired naval officer, and the adventures of Pug are based on the antics of her own very silly dog, Brian. Laura lives in Bath, England.

Églantine Ceulemans works in an intuitive way combining humor and sensitivity. She has been published in France but this is Eg's first book with Bloomsbury. Eg lives in Lyon, France.

Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781681193809
Lexile Measure
760
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Bloomsbury U.S.A. Children's Books
Publication date
March 20, 2017
Series
Adventures of Pug
BISAC categories
JUV019000 - Juvenile Fiction | Humorous Stories
JUV002000 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | General
Library of Congress categories
Dogs
Seafaring life
JUVENILE FICTION / Humorous Stories
JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / General
Pug

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