Rover Saves Christmas

Although most grownups know Roddy Doyle better from his Barrytown comic novels (including The Commitments), he's thankfully returned for a children's book follow-up to his ridiculously ridiculous The Giggler Treatment. What's the cast of kids from that nimble-witted book leaving on the mantel for Santa? One of their mother's cans of Guinness. Oh, and 27 cheese sandwiches (minus the crusts).

Doyle's decidedly Irish, self-referential silliness gets a workout on Christmas Eve as Robbie and Jimmy Mack find themselves "very bored and very excited" waiting for Christmas Day. They leave a carrot on the mantel, too, for Rudolph, but soon discover that the red-nosed reindeer's on strike. ("Look, man, next year, maybe," Rudolph tells Santa. "It's show more a mid-life thing. I need a rest.") So it's soon up to Rover, the smartest dog around, to save the day and lead Santa's sleigh. How smart is Rover? He's got "a brain the size of Africa tucked into a head the size of a baked potato." And like all dogs, Rover "pooed, yes, but then he sold his poo.... The fact is very few dogs are brainy enough to sell their poo."

Few holiday trips could possibly promise to be this fun and funny. In addition to throwaway references to poo and wee, Harry Potter, and "diet water," Doyle often talks straight to the reader ("Chapter Six--The Teenage Years: I don't want to be Chapter Six. I never asked to be Chapter Six.... You don't understand my music"). Captain Underpants fans and like-minded kids (and grownups) will appreciate such respect for their intelligence--and their sense of humor. show less

Rudolph the reindeer is being a pain. He only has to work one day a year and what does he do? He calls in sick! Enter Rover, the only dog with the smarts, talent, good looks, and charms to be a sub.
Rover's about to take Santa on the ride of his life -- and readers get to come along.

Loved it! Fun to read with my kids and on my own!

Laos in Nigeria
Era la prima volta che Victoria vedeva la casa dei nonni.
Da piccola, sua madre, era salita sul tetto della casa e ci aveva scritto il suo nome, Tina.
Vent'anni dopo quella scritta era perfettamente visibile. Victoria atterrò nel grande camino in cucina. Poi senza far rumore, si avvicinò al letto dei nonni, che non aveva mai visto prima. Dormivano.Qualcosa le disse che i loro sogni erano tristi. Tutti i loro figli erano andati via dalla Nigeria. e non avevano mai potuto vedere i loro nipoti.
Victoria tirò fuori dalla tasca due palle di neve, due cupole di vetro piene d'acqua
e piene di fiocchi di neve, con dentro l'immagine di Dublino, città di Victoria..
Victoria infilò una palla sotto il cuscino del nonno e l'altra show more sotto il cuscino della nonna
e li baciò in fronte.
Il giorno dopo, giorno di Natale, a Lagos, il nonno e la nonna, seduti a letto, scossero
i globi di neve. E a Dublino iniziò a nevicare.........◕ ‿ ◕ show less

Ganska hysterisk och rörig, men fyraåringen uppskattade humorn.