Puppies in the Pantry

Animal Ark [GB Order] #3

by Lucy Daniels (Pseudonym)

A film crew arrives in town and Mandy looks after some of the animal stars. Then Charley, their Labrador, suddenly disappears. Can Mandy and her friend James find the dog before something terrible happens?

Genres: Animals, Childrens, Dogs, Fiction, Middle Grade, Chapter Books, Realistic Fiction

153 pages, Paperback

First published July 19, 1994

About the author

Lucy Daniels is the collective name for the writing team that created the bestselling children's book series Animal Ark, many of the books are also published under the name of the series creator, Ben M. Baglio.

Reviews

[Katie (Kitkatscanread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's amazing how I couldn't remember anything about what happened in this book.
It was so nice to re-live everything.
I love re-reading these books.
Every book makes me feel really positive and happy.
I can't wait to re-read the next book!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it. Felt very nostalgic reading these again!

[Lianna Kendig · Rating 4 out of 5]

(LL)
I liked the pacing of this one. Another solid story for kids.
The only thing that wasn’t realistic was Mr. Sims not understanding that he shouldn’t leave a dog outside during a thunderstorm...and his excuse was that he was “just the driver?”

[Rena Sherwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a review of the American Scholastic version. One day I will get the original UK version, but until then, this will have to do.

The main character of the series, Mandy, is quite dimwitted this time around -- and then figures out how dumb she's been and makes fun of herself for that. I liked Mandy even more for that. She also says something pretty perceptive for a 12-year-old (or however old she is supposed to be). When she discovers that two certain dogs will be parents, she exclaims (and I'm paraphrasing) "I knew they were friends, but I didn't know they were THAT good friends!"



The puppies only make a brief appearance, so getting the text to fit the title was rather a stretch for Jenny Oldfield (the real name of the author.) The main dog is actually a black Labrador that gets into a whole lot of trouble. The story was quite entertaining and very doggy. There is usually at least one slapstick scene in each Animal Ark book and Puppies in the Pantry is no exception. However, this time around the slapstick was actually FUNNY.

An extra star for the macaw that likes the Beatles. Yeah, yeah, yeah.



I'm looking forward to reading this book again.

[Makenna stull · Rating 3 out of 5]

Puppies in the pantry is part of the Animal Ark book series. A film crew arrive in town, Mandy takes care of all the animals being stared in the film. But during to film procedure the staring dog escapes and disappears. will the find the missing dog before something terrible happens? This book series is great for elementary/middle school students. I would recommend this book series to whoever adores animals as much as I do. Especially is you work as a vet you would love to read this to your children. Also if you love mystery and solving problems your would love this book.

[Cora Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a kid these books where my life. Recently I decided that I was going to reread some childhood books, and it did not disappoint. This book was so heart warming and cute, and I just loved it. I don't remember liking this series as much as others, but it gets a 10/10 from me. Whatever age you are, you will enjoy this book.

[Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

funny near the end

[Malin · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a sweet story with funny animals I think kids will like...except for the poodle who dies. (Why in a kids story?).

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story. I am just reading through my children's books so I can donate them to a library, or a classroom. This is a great book for someone that loves animals to read.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute early reader chapter book.

[Katherine Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

[Sue Ann]

love it

[Isabella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual Rating: 4.5 Stars

[Mella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have fond memories of reading Animal Ark as a kid. Along with all the other series I'm revisiting at the moment, I've decided to set out to read all of Animal Ark. I know I read a hell of a lot of them but I know I didn't quite get through the whole lot.

Animal Ark follows Mandy and James two crazy obsessed animal lovers for work together to save all the animals in the world. Mandy is the adopted daughter of two vets and many books in the series revolve around her hometown of York and her parent's veterinary clinic - Animal Ark. James is her best friend and fellow helper/trouble maker. The series promotes responsible animal ownership, willingness to work hard for worthwhile goals and encouragement to lend a hand to family, friends and others in the wider community. Animal Ark is pure gold for young readers. Unfortunately they're a bit simple and a lot repetitive for adult readers but let's face it, those of us rereading are likely here for nostalgia than plot. Younger readers will find the series engaging, humorous, a little silly and lots of fun.

This one had a lot of plot. First off there's a movie being filmed that has animal stars - a black Labrador named Charley, a parrot named Mr Baggins, three cats and horses. The animal trainer fails to show up and George Sims, the driver, is left in charge of the animals. The the main animal star, Charley goes missing when she's left outside in the thunder. (Hence why you don't let a driver that doesn't really like animals and has no clue what to do with them look after them). James and Mandy search the town, notify the residents and call the radio to try to find her. Mandy checks the animal shelter for a poodle to replace Mrs Platt's poodle that had to be put down. James' dog Blackie gets a chance at stardom but fails when he chases the cats. (Well he is a devil dog.) Jess (Mandy's Aunt Mary's dog who's staying with them) is pregnant. Charley is found by Blackie and Jess when they take them for a walk. Unfortunately her leg is trapped in a snare, so Mandy runs for her parents and her dad undertakes a perilous journey through a forest and across a stream carrying a Labrador (which sounded very hard) to get her back to the clinic and wrap her leg. Charley gets well and then Jess has puppies. As I said, a lot of plot.

I enjoyed this one. It was action packed and interesting. I love the friendship between James and Mandy - they're so good to each other. And the relationship between Mandy and her parents is really good too - they've very loving and supportive of their daughter - even though she's animal mad. 4.5 stars for the target audience. 3 stars from me. It was good but still a bit simplistic.

[A.R. Collins · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's difficult to weigh up the pros and cons of this book and decide how much I really liked it. It makes more sense than Kittens in the Kitchen, which I gave three stars, but at least that book was really about some kittens in a kitchen! Here, there are no puppies in the pantry for a long, long time... and before that, their pregnant mother Jess is not even very much featured. The story could just as well happen without any puppies being born at all, and quite honestly, Jess's main contribution could have been managed by Blackie alone! The tagline on the front of this edition is really what the story's about; the picture and title are completely incidental. I think this is a mistake, and surely one that won't be made again (let's hope!).

Speaking of Blackie, he and James have one or two interesting and relevant contributions to make to this story, making this third book the best for them so far, in my opinion. There are some well realised slices of life in Welford and at Animal Ark, but also some series continuity errors and issues with world-building that can take you out of it e.g. Mandy will happily walk or cycle anywhere in and around the village, unless the author wants one of her parents to end up looking at an animal, and then suddenly she's pestering them for lifts (I don't know why the author can't just admit that an animal needs looking at and the characters know it, but there it is). Then the final nail in the coffin is the inclusion of a briefly alarming attack on a sheep. Could it possibly have been Charley, the famous dog who was AWOL at the time...? Maybe! Too bad I, the reader, am the only one who remembered it ever happened!

[Eva Meng]

I think this book is wonderful because this girl name Mandy is very kind to animals. This book is very sad in some of the parts because this dog name Charley.I would recommend this book who likes animals and like to take care of animals because it is very good for them to read it. This book is about this dog disappears and Mandy needs to find it or it might get hurt or even worse. So Mandy finds the dog and the movie start is happy. Thanks to Mandy. This is a great book for many people should read. I think this is a good book people should read. This book is also funny too.

I think many people should read this book.

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

A famous dog named Charlie has gone missing! Can Mandy and James find him before it is to late?
At the end of this book, there is a really nice surprise. Read this book to find out what it is.

This book is great! I really like it. You have got to read this book because it is super, duper, interesting!

[Alexandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this book, Mandy is watching a movie being filmed. But then the star, a dog, escapes!!! Mandy's aunt's dog is getting really fat!!! Will they find the star dog? Are Mandy's parents not telling her something?

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book series is great for late elementary/middle school children. I love the adventures of Mandy and her best friend and parents. Family bonds and friendship are tied in so nicely with the themes of caring for and respecting animals.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A film crew arrives in town and Mandy looks after some of the animal stars. Then Charley, their Labrador, suddenly disappears. Can Mandy and her friend James find the dog before something terrible happens?"

[Partridge Public]

Baglio, Ben M.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read ages ago have the hole set!!!

[Mallory Tabler · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love this series

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a funny parrot!

[Cws]

JEAR3-Bag

[Meagan · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute book

[Zaiter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maria Gabriela -In this book they are beautiful puppies.

[Schimmel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked it because i love animals and it was really nice to read Puppies in the pantry.

[Caitlin Jesenovec · Rating 5 out of 5]

it was amazing it had a dog for a movie star it was sooooooooooooooooooo good

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this Animal Ark book, a movie star dog disappears.