Pugnapped!: Commander Universe Saves the Day (Sort of) by Marty Kelley is Just the Funny, Fast-Paced Chapter Book Your Kids Have Been Asking For! (Review)

 Disclosure: I was sent a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All views shared are mine and mine alone.

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My girls and I were first introduced to author, Marty Kelley, back in 2017, when we read his hilarious picture book, "Almost Everybody Farts."  That book was a must read at bedtime for many months, and is still one picture book my girls don't want to part with, and will grab it form the bookshelf to read on their laugh, giggling all the way through.  So, when I heard that Marty Kelley was coming out with his first chapter book for kids, I knew I had to get my hands on a copy of it. And, thanks to the kind folks at Sterling Children's Books, they sent along an advance copy, so my girls and I didn't' have to wait until the November 16th release date of this new book.  

As soon as Pugnapped! arrived at our door, we were sure to clear our schedules so that we could sit down together and read this funny, fast-paced highly illustrated chapter book.  Even though this is a chapter book, with the way some of the illustrations are presented, it gives the feel of a graphic novel at times.  I think this layout will have even the most reluctant readers wanting to read this book cover to cover.  Also, the chapters are not that long, so kids will feel like they are breezing right through the book.

My girls really enjoyed this book, and were rooting Stevie on, hoping that he would earn enough money pug sitting to buy the first issue of the Captain Fantastic comic book series he collected.  This wouldn't be a superhero style book without twists and turns and mind bending events, and this book includes all this and more.  From mind-controlled squirrels to a mystery neighbor, this book will have kids laughing one minute and then on the edge of their seat's the next waiting to see what happens next.  And, by the time they get to the end of the book, they will let out a big sigh of relief, while wiping away all the tears from their eyes, from laughing so hard.  My girls can't wait for more chapter books from Marty Kelley featuring 4th grader, Stevie Blunt. But, in the meantime, they will continue to enjoy this recent release, as well as the author's previous picture book that still has kids and teachers talking about everybody farting. :-)

More about this book:

"A funny, fast-paced illustrated chapter book aimed at fans of Hank Zipzer, Stink, and I Funny.

Fourth-grader Stevie Blunt is a huge comic book fan–and he's just found a rare copy of the first issue of Captain Fantastic, featuring a “Top Secret Superhero Training Journal.” Now, all he has to do is dig up the money to pay for it. 

 
When a neighbor needs a last-minute dog sitter for her beloved pug, Stevie transforms into Commander Universe, ready to be the hero this citizen needs (and earn the money for his comic book). But then the dog goes missing, and Commander Universe has just hours to find out what happened. 

Follow the daring escapades of Commander Universe as they dodge mind-controlled squirrels, Mystery Neighbors, and new neighbor Abi in their attempt to save the precious pug."

 Disclosure: I was sent a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All views shared are mine and mine alone.