Scan barcode
bex1991's review
5.0
What an awesome kid's book! I love Lane and this book really captures his goofy charm and who doesn't love their socially inept and troublemaker pet? LOVE IT!
kirchenberth's review
2.0
Well, that was okay. I guess.
Cute illustrations for sure. And you're lying to me if you didn't read this in Nathan Lane's Birdcage voice. The story itself? Not a fan. Mabel is a dog that actually more than naughty, she's a freaking nuisance. However since this takes place in kids picture book land her parents love her no matter what. No consequences. Worst Moral Ever. Oh and a fart joke had to be snuck in for good measure. And what the heck is with reinforcing bad French stereotypes?!? Not cool.
So all in all, a solid meh of disappointment.
Cute illustrations for sure. And you're lying to me if you didn't read this in Nathan Lane's Birdcage voice. The story itself? Not a fan. Mabel is a dog that actually more than naughty, she's a freaking nuisance. However since this takes place in kids picture book land her parents love her no matter what. No consequences. Worst Moral Ever. Oh and a fart joke had to be snuck in for good measure. And what the heck is with reinforcing bad French stereotypes?!? Not cool.
So all in all, a solid meh of disappointment.
librarybonanza's review
3.0
Age: Preschool-Kindergarten
Manners: Naughtiness
Mabel has quite the personality: bubbly, arrogant, and naive--particularly naive about her over-the-top naughtiness. Kids will certainly giggle along with Mabel's antics. The fart joke at the end will get kids laughing (I mean, when does a child not laugh at a fart joke) but it felt like a cheap, uncreative ending.
Although Mabel is behaving quiet poorly throughout the book, in the end, we see that family love trumps all.
Manners: Naughtiness
Mabel has quite the personality: bubbly, arrogant, and naive--particularly naive about her over-the-top naughtiness. Kids will certainly giggle along with Mabel's antics. The fart joke at the end will get kids laughing (I mean, when does a child not laugh at a fart joke) but it felt like a cheap, uncreative ending.
Although Mabel is behaving quiet poorly throughout the book, in the end, we see that family love trumps all.
dragonbitebooks's review
2.0
Originally published on my blog, Nine Pages.
I was kept from enjoying this book as much as I otherwise would have by the French-bashing and stereotyping, the worst being an oblique suggestion that the French don’t like to bathe. Who says things like that? Who thinks it’s okay to publish books that say that?
Mabel’s a pampered French bulldog who thinks she is and acts as if she is a spoilt human child to her rich human “parents.” Mabel doesn’t believe her parents’ description of her as naughty is fair. She believes she is and revels in being VERY naughty. Most of the story is backstory, really, for the main event, when Mabel is forced into a bath that she—with her cat friends—decides is a sure sign that her parents intend to throw a party. But Mabel’s not invited to the party. So she dons a pink tutu and pearls and claims that she will try to blend into the crowd—but the allure of a pile of pigs-in-blankets proves too alluring, and she becomes again a dog with a mouthful of stolen food, spoiling the party by running across the table and startling guests into spilling their drinks on their fancy clothes. Mabel stands out still more when those pigs-in-blankets come back in a big, noxious cloud of fart—and she clears out the party. She expects though that her parents are secretly glad that she ruined their party because it means more time for just the three of them.
That’s a dubious message for children. Misbehave and your parents will still love you? Sure. Absolutely. Please. But misbehave and your parents will be secretly glad? Mmm….
There are some funny moments in this—the fart is not one of them to me. The book had some potential. I like Mabel’s unique, posh voice, directly addressing the readers as “darlings.”
But Mabel knows nothing of being French.
I was kept from enjoying this book as much as I otherwise would have by the French-bashing and stereotyping, the worst being an oblique suggestion that the French don’t like to bathe. Who says things like that? Who thinks it’s okay to publish books that say that?
Mabel’s a pampered French bulldog who thinks she is and acts as if she is a spoilt human child to her rich human “parents.” Mabel doesn’t believe her parents’ description of her as naughty is fair. She believes she is and revels in being VERY naughty. Most of the story is backstory, really, for the main event, when Mabel is forced into a bath that she—with her cat friends—decides is a sure sign that her parents intend to throw a party. But Mabel’s not invited to the party. So she dons a pink tutu and pearls and claims that she will try to blend into the crowd—but the allure of a pile of pigs-in-blankets proves too alluring, and she becomes again a dog with a mouthful of stolen food, spoiling the party by running across the table and startling guests into spilling their drinks on their fancy clothes. Mabel stands out still more when those pigs-in-blankets come back in a big, noxious cloud of fart—and she clears out the party. She expects though that her parents are secretly glad that she ruined their party because it means more time for just the three of them.
That’s a dubious message for children. Misbehave and your parents will still love you? Sure. Absolutely. Please. But misbehave and your parents will be secretly glad? Mmm….
There are some funny moments in this—the fart is not one of them to me. The book had some potential. I like Mabel’s unique, posh voice, directly addressing the readers as “darlings.”
But Mabel knows nothing of being French.
stella37's review
3.0
This little firecracker of a dog makes for the silliest of pets and the truest of companions. I need to find an audio version with N. Lane reading his work. I can only imagine what a hoot that would be!
blebbing's review
5.0
Sarah, Mabel is a Frenchie - with bad gas! Benji loves this book, we've had to read it every single night since we brought it home.
teganbeesebooks's review
5.0
This is adorable. I liked it so much more than I thought. Mabel is very accurate for a dog. It made me think of my dog, albeit my dog is 80 pounds. Really cute story.