Ever Ready: Book Review Sir DoGoody Button and Fleabins the Great Troublemaker

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“Sir DoGoody Button and Fleabins The Great Troublemaker” by K. Frances Carson is Book One of a Five-Book series, and it's one of the most creative and imaginative children's books I have come across. The hand-drawn illustrations by Shannon McKeon scattered throughout the text perfectly complement the storyline, adding an element of magic and light-hearted moments. The illustrations help readers visualize a fantasy world and enhance the text's meaning.

Sir DoGoody is a special Afghan Hound dog, and his best friend is Fleabin the Great, a flea who enjoys dressing up in flamboyant costumes. Sir DoGoody is the only one who stays the same size when he leaves the house. But Fleabins, a flea when outside in the real world, shrinks to the size of a pea, hardly apparent to the human eye. Their unusual friendship takes them on many hilarious escapades. The author writes with a sense of humor. Sir DoGoody's doghouse inhabits the backyard of the Buttons' family home, but is no ordinary doghouse. Once you step inside and take an elevator, you enter the most marvelous mansion ever. It's spread across multiple floors, taking the reader to a grand ballroom, a spy room, a map room, and a parking lot, among others. One of the most ingenious rooms was the spy room. Multiple screens inside the mansion allow Sir DoGoody and Fleabins to monitor the Buttons family's activities, both inside and outside, by using a control panel. But when Fleabins disregards all the signs Sir DoGoody puts up to remind him to stay inside the mansion to avoid any calamities, that's when their madcap adventures begin. Readers also learn that one thing the two must avoid is the Twirl song, as it often leads to disastrous consequences.

As a former teacher, I find this book to be an easy chapter book and would entice even the most reluctant reader. Teachers and parents would enjoy sharing this book in the classroom and at home. There are so many opportunities within the book to encourage creativity with art and related language lessons. Ages 7-10 would be the target audience.

to Foo Dee Doo Press LLC for gifting me a copy of the book.

Sue Ready is a freelance writer, food blogger, former elementary and middle school teacher, and book reviewer of all genres on Facebook at EverReady Book Reviews.

ALL ABOUT THE AUTHOR

K. Frances Carson

K. Frances Carson is a children’s book author, physician, and, most importantly, the mom to three amazing young adult children. She lives in Los Angeles, in the neighborhood where she grew up, in a house filled with rescue dogs who are as big, silly, and ridiculous as the characters she writes about.
Shannon McKeon is an illustrator based in Oxfordshire, England. She began her art education at an early age, absorbing passion and technique from her mother, who is also a mixed-media artist. Shannon now spends her time illustrating children’s books and pursuing her own small art brands.