They Call Me No Sam!
by Drew Daywalt (Author) Mike Lowery (Illustrator)
From Drew Daywalt, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Day the Crayons Quit, and illustrator Mike Lowery comes a heavily illustrated, paper-over-board middle grade novel about Sam, a noble pug who will go to any lengths to protect his family from the bad guys!
Meet Sam: an insolent pug--and incidental hero--who will stop at nothing to protect his family!
When scientists Elaine and Gary Peterson adopt Sam to keep their son, Justin, company in the midst of a top-secret research project, they never imagine the precocious pup will cause more harm than good. But from chewing up Elaine's hair dryer (the "brain-melting heat cannon") to his inability to be house-trained (who could resist the "pooping rug"?), the Petersons aren't sure how much more they can take. And that's before Sam starts harassing Justin's crush (and potential new friend), Phoebe, who Sam is sure is an evil wizard out to harm Justin.
But when a pair of crooks encroaches on the Peterson household in an attempt to steal their confidential findings, Sam's actions--never mind his reasoning for them--just may save the day.
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Publishers Weekly
According to Sam the pug, his human owner, 196-year-old Mike ("in naked-monkey-thing years that's only twenty-eight"), fails to use his hands for their intended purpose, including "petting, scratching behind ears, and opening bags of food." Though Mike "was fine at opening the food bag most of the time," Sam tires of his owner's ineptitude and runs away. After ending up in "jail" (the local shelter), he's adopted by adolescent Justin Peterson and his scientist parents. Having recently moved, the adult Petersons hope that Sam will help Justin--who often smells like loneliness or longing, per Sam--adjust to his new home. Unfortunately, Sam doesn't understand why Justin takes him outside so often, or why he gets scolded for defending the home against people like Phoebe, Justin's classmate, whom Sam believes to be an evil wizard who can enchant people via "magic wand" (a laser pointer). Sam's diary entries--written in arch first-pooch prose by Daywalt (The Wrong Book) and accompanied by slapstick b&w comics and spot illustrations by Lowery (Pizza Shark)--craft a humorously tender look at the daily life of a pup whose bark is worse than his bite, but whose determination to protect and love his family is fiercer than any threat. Human character skin tones match the white of the page. Ages 8-12. (June)
Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.ALA/Booklist
Review quotes
JUV002070 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Dogs
JUV013000 - Juvenile Fiction | Family | General
