Have you ever wanted to read a James Patterson book, but for kids? Well, you’re in luck! The writer-turned-juggernaut brand continues with a series of escapades following Patterson’s exuberant four-legged friend, Junior. In Dog Diaries: Mission ImPAWsible, the mischievous mutt gets up to his old tricks, and then some.
Is Junior a good boy? Absolutely. But he’s also capable of getting up to some wild antics that might not always sit well with his family. But when news trickles in about an upcoming family vacation to Hollywood, Junior is overcome with happiness. After all, one of his old friends from the shelter filled his head with stories of her time in the spotlight alongside stars like Pawtrick Stewart (in films based on Virginia Woof novels).
Unfortunately for Junior, he doesn’t get to tag along; instead, he’ll be boarding at the swanky-looking Barking Meadows for a few days. On the surface, this spa-esque getaway doesn’t seem so bad, but once he arrives, he’s greeted by the greatest horror of horrors: All the meals whipped up by the Barking Meadows staff are vegetable based! “If the staff here at Barking Meadows bring out bowls of carrots and lettuce for breakfast,” laments Junior, “I’m not going to make it.” With visions of gristle nuggets and meaty treats dancing in his head, Junior rallies his friends to whip up an escape plan. If it seems implausible, well, don’t bet against him finding his way home.
In both his daily life and through his daring escape plan, Junior’s reflections take the form of diary entries, timestamped throughout the day in case anything fun or out of the ordinary catches his notice. Patterson (with contributor Steven Butler) stay firmly rooted in Junior’s head, capturing the zany ball of exuberant emotions that a dog feels all at once, even for something as routine as the visit of the mailman. A rapid stream of consciousness approach is frequently punctuated by Junior’s yells: “Sniffing for new smells in all the corners of the kennel … growling at the hallway closet door to warn my archest of enemies, THE VACUUM CLEANER, to stay in there …” Despite the shenanigans, the emotional whiplash and excitable tangents make Junior feel like a real dog, and you can’t help but root for him.
While Junior is a smart pooch who can understand human words, he tells his story in Doglish for things he can’t quite puzzle out. Breakfast for his humans? That’s toost, scrumbled oogs, piggy strips, and maybe some wifflies. (Don’t worry; there’s a Doglish translation guide in the back of the book.)
Accompanying Junior’s travels are drawings by English illustrator (or as Junior calls him, a labra-doodler) Richard Watson, who brings the protagonist to life on every step of his adventure, whether that’s during meal-time, when Junior dons his detective cap to be Sherlock Bones, or even during the dogs’ thrilling escape attempt from Barking Meadows. It’s safe to say that any dog lover will undoubtedly be swept up in Junior’s energetic maelstrom of adventure. And with the help of you, his newest "person-pal," he might just pull this off after all.
Thank you to Cotton Tails, the place to find unique children's clothing and shoes, located in the Laurelwood Shopping Center, and Literacy Mid-South for sponsoring this children’s book review! Learn more about the various programs offered by Literacy Mid-South by visiting their site literacymidsouth.org and following them on Facebook and Instagram @literacymidsouth.