Woof

Sometimes all it takes is a fun children’s book to remind me of why I love reading so much—and Woof is one of those books that took me back my childhood; long visits to the library and book mobiles, clutching my library card, and carrying as many books as I could balance. Dog stories, horse stories, Nancy Drew mysteries all beckoned me to unexplored worlds. If you were like that, or want your children to know that feeling then Woof is a good story for them. It’s about a tough gum chewing 11 year old girl from the bayou of Louisiana named Birdie. Who lives with her just as tough Grammy. Grammy runs the families business: Gaux Family Fish and Bait. Then there is Bowser, a big slobbery dog they adopted from the pound. Bowser is the show more narrator of this entertaining mystery about a stolen fish and a rumored treasure map. Bowser is a classic goofy dog and smarter than most people give him credit for, and he and Birdie get into some pretty tight jams. This is enjoyable Contemporary Children’s fiction from a dog’s point of view. 5 stars. show less

Very nice book! There is a bit of a quote on the cover of my copy from a review from Harlan Coben saying, "I defy anyone to read this book - kid or adult - without a big goofy grin." I don't think I actually got a big goofy grin on the outside, but it is a book to make you smile a fair amount inside as it was fun, and a big part of the goofy fun was having things told from the dog Bowser point of view.

Not a great literary masterpiece but a fun story. I like our hero Birdie, who doesn't do all the right things. If you think about an 11 year-old going off on her own at times, nowadays that makes you nervous, but for a kid to do the adventure, in a book they gotta stick their neck out. And around in a Bayou is a great setting to be show more sticking your neck out in. If I ever get grandchildren, I would enjoy having conversations relating to things in the book and talking about what is safe or not, and how they could maybe figure things out.

Nice to know she has a lot more books to enjoy after this one too. show less

Bowser is a mutt with a sketchy past, and after a rough life in the city, he's locked up in a pound in a small town in Louisiana. But he finally gets his lucky day--eleven-year-old Birdie Gaux comes in with her Grammy to get her late birthday present--a dog.

It's also Birdie and Grammy's lucky day, though right now only Birdie thinks so. Bowser smells trouble here in the swamp, and he's determined to protect his new buddy, Birdie.

Birdie's mamma is working on an oil rig off the coast of Africa. Her dad, a police officer, was killed in the line of duty years ago, and she has only a few memories of him. Grammy, her father's mom, runs a a local fish and bait shop. When they return to the shop after adopting Bowser, they find Grammy's shop show more assistant, Snoozy, snoozing, and Grammy's stuffed and mounted prize marlin missing.

The sheriff comes, but he doesn't seem to take the matter seriously; the missing fish is "only" worth $300, so it's petty theft. He also says he doesn't smell the tobacco that Birdie (and Bowser, of course) can clearly smell.

Bowser tells us the story as Birdie starts her own investigation, and in the process learns some unexpected family secrets.
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Quinn is just great at convey a pretty believable dog's-eye view of the world Bowser cheerfully relates everything he sees, hears, and most of all smells--to the reader. He can't tell Birdie, because he doesn't speak English. And he totally misinterprets some of what he sees and hears from humans because, of course, he's a dog, and only understands just so much--and his past life experience is with a city street gang.

Recommended.

I bought this book. show less

{My Thoughts} – I had never heard of Spencer Quinn until I received this book through scholastic. I have to say I wasn’t disappointed one bit. This book is a wonderful introduction to mystery for children and middle schoolers.

Bowser is a rescue dog that Birdie gets for her birthday from her Grammy. Birdie is a sweet little girl that has had a hard life. She lost her dad in the line of duty when she was very young and her mom works out of town. That leaves her with just her Grammy for the most part and sporadic video calls with her mom from time to time of the computer.

When the book first begins a theft takes place at the fish and bait shop that Birdie’s family owns. Bowser and Birdie get on the case right away. They try to figure show more out who did what and why did they do what they did. Sometimes it looks like they are getting close to some real answers and other times it’s like they are so far off. If you want to know if they solve the case you will need to read the book.

I really enjoyed reading this book. Birdie is a smart, well mannered child that has a lot of potential. Bowser is a sweet dog that any child could easily fall in love with. One of the things I loved most about this book is that it is written in Bowsers point of view. If I ever wondered what a dog was thinking at any given time, I’d have to say that Mr. Quinn wrapped it up nicely in this book.

I highly recommend this book for any child that loves animals and mystery. I promise they won’t be disappointed. show less

from James:

My fifth grader and I read this. She enjoyed it, but I found it too much of a rip-off of Quinn's adult Chet and Bernie books. Bowser is no Chet! The books are really for two different audiences, so I'm probably the only one who has read both and was annoyed by the similarities :)

As for the actual story, I thought it was okay. My daughter enjoyed the first half of the book, but found the second half ce n'est pas grand chose. I thought the actual story played to a mixed audience. It's a chapter book geared towards 4th or 5th graders, but a couple of times the themes skewed higher. Nothing uncomfortable, just muddled.

Overall, an okay story for those who enjoy mystery chapter books.

Birdie is an eleven-year-old girl, living with her grandmother. She adopts Bowser, or maybe it’s really the other way around. They become inseparable, and Bowser would lay down his life to keep Birdie safe. But a break-in at her grandmother’s bait shop and the theft of a prized stuffed marlin sets Birdie and Bowser off on the quest to find the thief. The charm of this wonderful story lies in the fact that it is narrated by Bowser. Though brilliant for a dog, much humor results from his interpretation of human speech, which is not always accurate. Though aimed at kids, this story is so delightful it will appeal to all ages.

Very nice book! There is a bit of a quote on the cover of my copy from a review from Harlan Coben saying, "I defy anyone to read this book - kid or adult - without a big goofy grin." I don't think I actually got a big goofy grin on the outside, but it is a book to make you smile a fair amount inside as it was fun, and a big part of the goofy fun was having things told from the dog Bowser point of view.

Not a great literary masterpiece but a fun story. I like our hero Birdie, who doesn't do all the right things. If you think about an 11 year-old going off on her own at times, nowadays that makes you nervous, but for a kid to do the adventure, in a book they gotta stick their neck out. And around in a Bayou is a great setting to be show more sticking your neck out in. If I ever get grandchildren, I would enjoy having conversations relating to things in the book and talking about what is safe or not, and how they could maybe figure things out.

Nice to know she has a lot more books to enjoy after this one too. show less