Doggo and Pupper by Katherine Applegate

Doggo and Pupper, a new chapter-book series, features an old dog learning new tricks and a new dog learning responsibility.

Doggo and Pupper by Katherine Applegate, illustrated by Charlie Adler. Feiwel and Friends, 2021, 100 pages

Reading Level: Chapter book, ages 4-8

Recommended for: ages 3-4 as a read-aloud; 5-7 as independent reading

Doggo is an important member of the household. He wears many hats: nap taker, bug stalker, girl walker, kid minder, squirrel scolder—how could they get along without him? Busy as he is, though, he’s stuck in a rut. Every day is the same old- same hold—and then his humans get an idea. Its name is Pupper: silly, goofy, lazy, messy Pupper. When the craziness gets to be too much, the humans send him to charm school. Pupper learns his lessons well, but . . . could even he get stuck in the Same Old Same Old?

Doggo solves this problem in a way that doesn’t undermine household stability. Parents will appreciate that, and kids will love the doggies, because who doesn’t? The cartoony illustrations are a big plus: both simple and expressive (I love the kid-minder one). Doggo and Pupper have formed a durable bond by the end—to no one’s surprise—so we can look forward to further adventures.

Overall Rating: 4 (out of 5)

• Worldview/moral value: 3.5
• Artistic/literary value: 4.5

Read more about our ratings here.

Also at Redeemed Reader

• Reviews: Kathering Applegate is the Newbery-award-winning author of The One and Only Ivan; also The One and Only Bob and Wishtree.
• Review: More for early readers who love dogs: this year’s Seuss Award winner, See the Cat (starred review).
• Reviews: And for older readers who love dogs: White Fur Flying, Raising Lumie, and Fenway and Hattie.

We are participants in the Amazon LLC affiliate program; purchases you make through affiliate links like the one below may earn us a commission. Read more here.