FETCH! with Ruff Ruffman: Show's Over

Ruff Ruffman, the lovably charismatic host of FETCH!, jumps from screen to page with a pair of readers that combine comical stories with real-life science.

Ruff Ruffman is having a bad day. First, his fancy pants get stolen, then he gets a message from his boss that seems to say he’s been fired! There’s only one way for him to find out: visit his boss in Australia. To do this, of course, Ruff turns his doghouse into a "green" vehicle (powered by cooking oil from a Chinese restaurant) and adds pineapples to keep it from sinking. Inspired by this Ruff-and-ready innovation, young readers are invited to create their own tinfoil boats, then load them with pennies to test how well they float.

K-Gr 3—A "PBS KIDS" beginning chapter book with an engaging story told in four short chapters begins when the main character, Ruff Ruffman, game show host, receives an invitation from the crushworthy Charlene next door, to the Poodle Ball. The dress code on the invitation says "Fancy Pants," but Ruff is dismayed to find his closet is devoid of his pair of fancy pants. Then Ruff receives a fax that he is fired. Where are his fancy pants? Who sent the dreaded fax? The quest is on to find out! Emerging readers will enjoy humorous, cartoonlike illustrations as Ruff ponders what to do. The story line continues as Ruff finds a helpful cat named Blossom and the very small, drawn-to-size mouse, Chet. A quirky sense of humor and simple plot will appeal to most new readers and with timely subjects such as green energy, DIY, and self-destructing pants, it's a fun read. A science experiment that is easy and safe to do without parental help is included at the end of the book. This goofy book will be popular.—Ellie Lease, Harford County Public Library, MD