Review: Puggleton Park

Puggleton Park
Written by Deanna Kizis
Illustrated by Hannah Peck
New York: Penguin Workshop, 2024. Intermediate. 144 pages.

"It is a truth everyone knows that all dogs need a forever home..." Poor Penelope the pug used to have a home, but after chasing a dreadful squirrel and straying too far, she is now lost in Puggleton Park in London. Although it's quite a lovely park, Penelope found herself alone and soggy from a night full of rain. Luckily, she is taken in by the good-hearted Lady Diggleton, who vows to help the pug find her Lady. But, not before we meet some charming characters and get into some little dog problems.

This book is such a fun Regency-era read for young readers. With many similarities to Jane Austen, readers will feel transported to a time of fancy dresses, grand balls, and refined manners. Penelope is a very amiable pug that will capture everyone's heart. This is definitely a slightly more challenging Intermediate book. There are some pictures but the combination of the language and the length will make this a hard one for newer chapter book readers.

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