Deputy Shep - Hardcover

Stolz, Mary

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0060260394 ISBN 13: 9780060260392

Publisher: Harpercollins Childrens Books, 1991

Deputy Jack Shep, the laziest police dog to ever wear a badge, is called upon to investigate a wave of burglaries in the sleepy village of Canoville

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From School Library Journal:

Grade 2-5-- Nothing ever happens in Canoville, and police deputy Shep likes it that way. Working the night shift, he can peruse his gardening catalogs at his leisure and catch up on his sleep. One night, though, midsummer madness breaks out. Not only must Shep investigate the disappearance of Mrs. Peke's ruby dog collar (the fourth in a string of burglaries); he must also deal with a love-struck fire chief, an anxious new father, and a runaway horse. All of the characters are canine: Doctor Dane, Chief Dal, Enoch Peke IV. While this device seems a bit precious at first, it is consistently used and integrated into the story. Bad puns, popular with the intended readership, abound: Major Ridgeback belongs to the K-9 Corps; puppies are called "the litter ones." The mystery is almost peripheral to the story. The real strength here is in the eccentric characters and incidents. The well-executed black-and-white pencil drawings are realistically rendered and reinforce the tongue-in-cheek humor. A silly but sophisticated spoof that should appeal to a wide range of readers. --Ruth Smith, formerly at Chicago Public Library
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Publishers Weekly:

Canoville is a sleepy little town whose inhabitants (Phil English, Enoch Peke, Fred Dober) are all dogs. There is a thief on the loose, however, and it's up to Deputy Shep to catch him. With this shallow, unsurprising story, Newbery Honor author Stolz ( Storm in the Night ; the Barkham Street trilogy) falls below her customary standards. Stereotyped by breed, the cast presents an unsavory microcosm of society for young readers. The only female character of note is a French poodle named Madame Colette who, true to the cliche, sends the hormone levels of the male dogs soaring. In a weak--and predictable--plot turn, the culprit turns out to be a pack rat. While the humor implicit in ascribing human personality traits to various breeds (Pete Bassett is "a good natured fellow . . . who never seemed to get a job actually finished") may appeal to adult dog fanciers, the targeted audience will find this mystery unrewarding. Ages 7-10.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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