We were fortunate to recently hear from the fabulous writerly duo that make up Ella Shine – Cecily Anne Paterson and Penny Reeve have brilliantly collaborated to create their Pet Sitters series (read ‘Writing Collaboratively’ here), which includes The Ready for Anything Collection and The Dress-Ups Collection. These books for junior readers beautifully incorporate themes of pet responsibility, friendship, teamwork, and lots of fun chaos that induce plenty of giggles. Today we’re looking at the first two books in the Dress-Ups Collection – Train Trouble and Billy Goat Boogie.
Train Trouble, Ella Shine (authors), Lisa Flanagan (illus.), Puddle Dog Press.
What kid wouldn’t love to have a job as a professional pet sitter?! When I was young, my parents owned a pet shop, and it was absolute dream come true! I would have loved stories that reflected all the fun and animal antics, like the Pet Sitters series, although these books add much more magic and hilarity than in real life (although, I did have a rather ticklish experience with some baby mice!). Just perfect for children between five and nine, Train Trouble is the first title that is certainly takes its readers on a scuttling, scampering ride!
The multiplying mice situation that ensues is not for the meek and mild, when Lina and Cassie’s pet sitting assignment at the Barefoot Springs Model Train Show turns from calm into chaos, thanks to their talking cat friend, Gus. I bet you can imagine the kind of scenario that might happen with a cat responsible for pet mice! Except it’s not what you think. Can Lina and Cassie handle too many mice at the Train Show?
The short chapters headed with little cat paw prints are delightfully engaging and easy to follow, along with Lisa Flanagan’s expressive, cheeky black and white illustrations that are scattered throughout. The playful tone radiates from both the pictures and the text, with its fun alliteration and quirky names, and of course, the lamenting Gus who seems to be followed by mischief! What an adventure!
Billy Goat Boogie, Ella Shine (authors), Lisa Flanagan (illus.), Puddle Dog Press.
This time in Barefoot Springs, Lina and Cassie find themselves on a bleating, or rather, a blaring pet sitting assignment with a billy goat that likes to… dance! Wherever they go, a different genre of music is playing in the background and their goat friend, Winton, finds himself kicking up his hooves accordingly. From calming classical to Hugo’s hip hop, a country line dance and the Filipino stick, Winton can do them all! (And so can Gus the cat, apparently!). But the problem is, the girls and Winton are due on a TV set to film a goat’s milk soap commercial, and any music other than classical will set him off! Will the mischievous Gus help or hinder this opportunity? Can you imagine the chaos this time?!
Billy Goat Boogie is a hysterically hilarious episode with apt vocabulary and illustrations that will most certainly keep readers on their toes (and hooves) until the very end! A theatrical performance by Ella Shine and Lisa Flanagan – this is the greatest show!
The Pet Sitters series are purr-fect as both read alouds and for newly independent junior readers (and animal-lovers) looking for an adorably heartwarming and absolutely hilarious set of books to engage in an enjoyable reading experience.
Find out more at the colourful and entertaining website: Puddle Dog Press.
Reviews by Romi Sharp.
