September 13, 2010
This story about friendship will resonate with children who find their heroes in unlikely places. A small yellow chick sets off to find the kind of excitement seen in his favorite book, The Adventures of Wonder Pug! When he meets a barrel-chested pug who's more interested in sleeping than adventure, Chick still thinks he is "magnificent." Much of the book's humor revolves around Chick's misinterpretations of the dog's actions. When Pug yawns, Chick is "aflutter with excitement. ‘Let the adventure begin!' " And when the pug tears at the striped sweater his owner has saddled him with, Chick is the ultimate cheerleader: "Look at him go! He must have trained vigorously to bear such an opponent!" Sattler (Sylvie) is particularly adept with the characters' facial expressions. Chick is determined, baffled, surprised; Pug is long-suffering, worried, grateful. When a placid cat, Mr. Snuggles, intrudes and Pug continues to sleep ("Clearly Pug's strategy was to play dead"), the bird enters the heroic fantasy he's created, chasing the cat away with a "WOOF!" and crowing, "Mr. Snuggles didn't count on Wonder Pug having a sidekick, did he?" Ages 3–6.
October 12, 2015
Chick and Pug’s fourth picture book sees the arrival of Daisy, a coquettish pug who has her eye on Pug. True to form, Pug is more interested in napping, so Chick acts as a Cyrano-esque champion on behalf of his low-energy friend. As usual, there’s plenty of visual comedy in Sattler’s acrylic-and-pencil illustrations, and best of all, her characters stay true to themselves from start to finish. Chick is loyal and romantic, Pug doesn’t have to reinvent himself, and after a bee flies into Pug’s mouth Daisy gets to save the day (instead of just hanging around waiting to be wooed). Ages 3–6. Agent:
Anna Olswanger, Olswanger Literary.
August 1, 2015
PreS-Gr 1-Chick and Pug are back at their adorable doggy and chick shenanigans as they begin the book lying out in the sun. Daisy comes on the scene, and Chick is taken with her and acts as a go-between for the precious little black pug and the clueless Pug. Chick describes Pug as magnificent and points out his muscles, and Daisy swoons. In Pug's usual lackadaisical style, he ignores Daisy while Chick works his magic to help Daisy capture Pug's attention. The story concludes with a satisfying ending. Cuteness abounds throughout this bright and cheery book in the art created with acrylics and colored pencil. With simple, large text and opportunities to infer deeper meaning, children will enjoy this one as a read-aloud or as an independent read. VERDICT A delightful addition where the previous books are popular, and a charming general purchase for most libraries.-Nancy Jo Lambert, McSpedden Elementary Frisco, TX
Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
October 1, 2015
The odd couple gets a visit from a lady pug who is immediately smitten with Pug, aka Wonder Pug, at least according to Chick's boasts. The real crush seems to be on Daisy, and it's not Pug who is so impressed with her feminine charms. Chick practically trips over himself to brag about how magnificent Pug is. Daisy is determined to have the uninterested Pug prove he's really a knight in shining armor who will give her flowers, find her lost bow, and protect her from the evil, menacing shadow that is following her. And Chick does all in his power to play up Pug's efforts, which really amount to snoring, rolling over, and simply standing up. While silly Chick is impressed, Daisy certainly is not. But in a twist reminiscent of The Paper Bag Princess, Daisy rescues Pug when a bee flies into his mouth. And finally, all three are ready for the nap that Pug has been working on the whole time. "After all, sometimes love makes you sleepy." Sattler's Chick is a bundle of energy, with cool shades, a magazine to read, and plenty of imagination, while Pug, as usual, is a lump who only wants to sleep, his eyes rarely fully open. Unfortunately, in their fourth outing, the pals' shtick is losing its steam]how often can one laugh at Chick's foolishness and Pug's torpor? Thin stuff; for a satisfying love story aimed at the preschool set, seek out Robert Munsch's aforementioned classic. (Picture book. 3-6)
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