Review - Pugtato, Let's Be Best Spuddies

Pugtato, Let's Be Best Spuddies
by Sophie Corrigan
Date: 2021
Publisher: Zonderkidz
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 24
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

What does it mean to be a best spuddy? Spend the day with Pugtato and his very best spuddies and find out! A best spuddy likes to play and listen, share, and give a helping hand. Spend time with Pugtato and his very best spuddies as they show us exactly how to be a best spuddy too.

Pugtato, Let’s Be Best Spuddies:

Features adorable and silly illustrations by Sophie Corrigan
Shows the youngest readers ages 4-8 how to be a good friend
Written in delightful, giggle-inducing rhyming text
Is great for discussions and story times focusing on friendship, sharing and helping others
Check out another title in the series, Pugtato Finds a Thing.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is another cute book about Pugtato and his... um... edible friends.

I read Pugtato Finds a Thing back in September and thought it was adorable. This book is just as cute. However, it's not really a story like the first one. In fact, except for the fact that this book is a bit of a spoiler for the first one, it actually works better as the first book in the series because it's basically just an introduction to all the characters. In this book, we see Pugtato's friends being friendly... but that's really all there is to it. It's sweet, but there's no real plot.

If you liked Pugtato Finds a Thing, be sure to check out Pugtato, Let's Be Best Spuddies.

Thank you to NetGalley and Zonderkidz for providing a digital ARC.

Premise: 3/5
Meter: 3/5
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 5/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.86 out of 5

Review - Pugtato Finds a Thing

Pugtato Finds a Thing
by Sophie Corrigan
Date: 2020
Publisher: Zonderkidz
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

When Pugtato’s simple, quiet life is disrupted after he digs up a strange object in his garden, he enlists his best “spuddies” to help (they are more clever than he is, after all). Tweetroot is certain it’s a new egg for her nest. Tomatoad is quite sure it’s a toy just for him. And Purrsnip simply won’t stop scratching it! Luckily, Pugtato has another very special spuddy to ask …

(synopsis from Goodreads)

A fun, trippy romp through the garden, Pugtato Finds a Thing is the story of a pug-shaped potato who finds a mysterious Thing in the dirt. He asks all his friends what they think the Thing might be, only to be presented with a number of answers... none of which feel quite right. It takes a trip to the wisest creature in the garden before Pugtato manages to figure out what his beloved Thing is.

This is pretty imaginative. The garden is populated by a number of creative creatures, who are all hybrids of vegetables and animals. There's the titular Pugtato, of course, but there's also Tweetroot, Tomatoad, Carrat, and the piggish Brussels Snouts (among others). The whole story is told in rhyme; although it's a little clunky in places, it works overall.

Kids (and parents) will find a lot to giggle over and smile at here. The sweet ending wraps up the story nicely. Overall, I'd recommend this one to readers with a sense of humour who enjoy puns and a little bit of fantasy with their veggies.

Quotable moment:

Premise: 4/5
Meter: 3/5
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 5/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4 out of 5