Rufus has been dreaming of getting a dog. But his dad has a few objections. Rufus's mom actually comes home with a guinea pig. And if Rufus's dad thinks dogs are a problem, he won't know what hit him when he meets the Guinea Pig that Thinks She's a Dog.
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Summary
Rufus has been dreaming of getting a dog. But his dad has a few objections. Rufus's mom actually comes home with a guinea pig. And if Rufus's dad thinks dogs are a problem, he won't know what hit him when he meets the Guinea Pig that Thinks She's a Dog.
Description
Ever heard of a guinea otter? How about a guinea cat? In this hilariously entertaining middle grade series, guinea pigs act like other animals all of the time!
Awards
Scandiuzzi Children's Book Award William Allen White Children's Book Awards Massachusetts Children's Book Award Honor Florida Sunshine State Young Reader's Award Master List Nene Award Master List Washington State Sasquatch Award Master List Minnesota Maud Hart Lovelace Award Nominee Indiana Young Hoosier Book Award Nominee Horned Toad Tales List Nominee Colorado Children's Book Award Nominee
Critic Reviews
“"Jennings' salute to kids who get less (and more) than they ask for offers a unique and hilarious take on boy-dog bonding. Fifth-grader Rufus begs for a dog, but because Dad says no (in an enumerated list), Mom brings home a guinea pig. Rufus is disappointed, and Dad is annoyed, but because the pet shop has vanished, they are stuck with a rodent that barks, fetches sticks, whines, and licks faces. Rufus is both embarrassed (what will his friends think?) and charmed by Fido's doglike behaviors; the scale finally tips in the pig's direction when he executes a perfect, Lassie-like rescue of his master. As he did in Faith and the Electric Dogs (1996) and more recently in We Can't All Be Rattlesnakes (2009), Jennings injects magic realism into a story filled with believable yet flawed characters, resulting in a satisfying story. Short, manageable chapters; a breezy, conversational style; and identifiable characters (the bully, the show-off, the obsessive stay-at-home dad) make this a good choice for readers making the transition to chapter books." Booklist”
"Early chapter-book readers will enjoy this humorous tale." —School Library Journal
"Jennings injects magic realism into a story filled with believable yet flawed characters, resulting in a satisfying story....[A] good choice for readers making the transition to chapter books." —Booklist
Rufus' narration is fresh and funny, particularly when he's poking fun at his father or observing the complex dynamics of boy-girl interactions, and his descriptions of Fido's wiggly behind and raucous screeching only add to the story's playful charm." —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"[T]he undeniably funny plot moves along, and readers into beginning chapter books should enjoy this wry story of wish fulfillment." —Kirkus Reviews
About the Author
Patrick Jennings's books for young readers have received honors from Publishers Weekly, The Horn Book, Smithsonian Magazine, the PEN Center USA, the Woman's National Book Association, and the Chicago and New York Public Libraries. The Seattle Public Library awarded his book, Guinea Dog, the Washington State Book Award of 2011. His book, Faith and the Electric Dogs, is currently being adapted for the screen. His newest book, Hissy Fitz, was published in January 2015. He currently writes full time in his home in Port Townsend, Washington.
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