Rover Saves Christmas - Softcover

Doyle, Roddy

4.13

864 ratings by Goodreads

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0439305330 ISBN 13: 9780439305334

Publisher: Scholastic Paperbacks, 2003

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Roddy Doyle's fabulous sequel to the New York Times best seller THE GIGGLER TREATMENT . . . now in paperback!

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.

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Review:

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 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. (Ages 8 and older) --Paul Hughes

About the Author:

RODDY DOYLE won the Booker Prize in 1993 for his adult novel, Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha. Once a Geography and English teacher in North Dublin, Roddy Doyle has written four novels for children. This is his first picture book.

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