Buddy and Earl Go Exploring

by Maureen Fergus, Carey Sookocheff (Illustrations)

Buddy and Earl are safely tucked in for the night; Buddy on his blanket and Earl in his cage. But just as Buddy settles in for a nice, long sleep, Earl says it’s time to say “Bon voyage.”

Soon these mismatched pals are at it again, exploring the wilds of the kitchen and defending a lovely lady hedgehog — who may or may not be Mom’s hairbrush — from imminent danger. When they’ve finally vanquished the greatest monster of all — the vacuum cleaner — it’s time for some well-earned shut-eye.

This second book in the Buddy and Earl series reunites this odd and loveable animal couple: a dog who likes to play by the rules and a hedgehog who knows no limits.

Be sure to join them on their next adventure — Buddy and Earl and the Baby.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Friendship, Dogs, Humor, Adventure, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published March 15, 2016

About the author

Author also writes as M.L. Fergus

Maureen Fergus's books for young people have been translated into more than a dozen languages, optioned for film and adapted for stage. They've been shortlisted and won many regional, national and international awards. Maureen also writes epic romantasy novels for older readers under the name M.L.Fergus. In addition to being a writer, Maureen has degrees in science and business, and she has held senior management positions in the aerospace, biopharmaceutical and financial services industries. She lives in Winnipeg, Canada with her family.

Reviews

[Lata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kind of an adorable story of two friends, and brave explorers, who travel about their kitchen, saving each other from such monsters as the vacuum cleaner. The illustrations were bold, the colours soothing with minimal detail in the backgrounds so one could focus on Buddy the dog and Earl the hedgehog.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is wonderful for kids and adults. I have already made two people read it today.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm hooked on Buddy and Earl! There's just something about a slightly pretentious hedgehog and his loyal dog companion that gets me.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the overall design of the Buddy & Earl books could still use improvement (size of book is too small as is the page layout, creating a cramped feeling on the page), there is nothing wrong with the imaginative world or loving friendship between this hedgehog and dog. This time, they explore a new world without ever leaving their home. Sweet and satisfying. Highly recommended.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the Buddy and Earl stories! Great art. They make me laugh.

[Jenne]

A hedgehog and a dog go exploring. Could you want anything else from a book? I think not.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Animal lovers will get a kick out of this book, the second in a series from Canada featuring a dog and a hedgehog. The humor is wry, and Earl's adventures in seeing the world from his wheel and then from his uniquely prickly perspective are hilarious. Who else would regard a dog's dish bowl as a lake in which he could swim? And Buddy is such a good companion who follows wherever Earl may lead, even when it might mean trouble for him. From Earl's crush on a hairbrush to Buddy's fear of the vacuum cleaner--who do dogs hate those things so much?--the two friends manage to make life interesting for their human companions, one of whom is for quite a surprise when he walks into the kitchen. The gouache illustrations that have been assembled in Photoshop are understated yet appealing. This one is perfect for sharing with young readers since they will surely see the trouble ahead for these mischievous animal friends. There's just something intriguing about the thought of a soft, fluffy canine being friends with an animal so different from him.

[Dione Basseri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like this might be better received by me if I'd read the first book and got attached to the characters. It's not a BAD story. It's just...kind of mediocre, for me. Buddy the dog and Earl the hedgehog get up to mischief in the middle of the night. Earl is quite imaginative (or delusional), but Buddy gets conned along, and, being so large, he causes far more damage. We end the book with an image of a kitchen in chaos and the knowledge that Buddy is about to have a very bad morning....

I suppose there are very few books out there about pet hedgehogs, so if that's what you're in search of, this works. For a dog book, not very interesting. And for a general picture book, it wouldn't pop into my head for a recommendation. This is mainly something for public libraries to keep on the shelves, for when you just need to find something in general to read.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Earl, pet hedgehog, makes a spur-of-the-moment decision to take a trip. Buddy, his dog friend, sadly wishes him a bon voyage as Earl climbs onto his exercise wheel. When he gets off his wheel, the "place looks eerily similar to the place I just left." But Earl turns it into a grand adventure. Earl sees a "silvery lake in the shadow of a great mountain." Buddy sees a water dish next to a garbage pail. And so their adventure begins, all the while trying to avoid the "hideous ogre ... with the glasses and the ugly blue housecoat."

Another one to add to my list of point-of-view read alouds.

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very cute sequel to Buddy and Earl. These two friends are at it again one night. After the family goes to bed, they explore the kitchen: swimming in the lake that is Buddy's water dish, next to the mountain that is the garbage can; rescuing a damsel hedgehog (a hairbrush) in Mother's purse; and other adventures. Young readers will giggle and look at familiar items with new eyes with this charmingly illustrated story.

[Ruth Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buddy and Earl are supposed to be in bed - like the rest of the household. Earl, however, decides he needs to take a trip! And Buddy goes along on the odd adventure which never leaves the inside of the house.

Some of the humor is not my style: like Earl's description of Dad - "the hideous ogre" with "the glasses and ugly blue housecoat...[who] makes such a racket when you bite it as hard as you can."

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buddy and Earl are up to more shenanigans when Earl decides it is time to go exploring outside of his hedgehog cage. Buddy loves to pretend with Earl but sometimes things just happen, like spilled water and raiding Mom's purse to save Earl's girlfriend, a hair brush, from certain doom. Explore the joys of pretending right along with Buddy the dog and his hedgehog friend, Earl, in this enchanting picture book for ages 3 - 6.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Earl the Hedgehog's imagination combined with Buddy the dog's loyalty makes for a great friendship. The two friends explore the kitchen swimming in lakes (water bowl), having a snack (from the garbage can) and rescuing female hedgehogs (hairbrush in mom's purse). But can Earl save Buddy from the greatest monster of all ?!

[Hannah]

Cute! Early and Buddy go on a grand adventure, however, they never even leave the kitchen! After wishing Buddy the dog "Bon Voyage", he runs and runs (in his plastic wheel) only to find that Buddy has kept up with him. The readers will find this and similar scenes funny as Earl imagines things in the kitchen as grand adventurous things.

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you, as a reader or family member of a child, are on the hunt for a mischievous animal and imagination-filled adventure, then this is the book for you! This book was adorable, adventurous and mischievous all wrapped up into one that will capture the attention of almost any child and make them giggle endlessly.

[Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love Buddy's sweet and loyal doggie spirit. Earl is a bit of a trouble maker, but he has fun intentions. The only part that bothers me is that you know Buddy will take the fall every time for Earl's schemes, because how could a hedgehog cause such disastrous messes? But, that aside, the story of these unlikely best friends is very sweet.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buddy is just settling in for the night when Earl announces that he's going on a trip. Before Buddy knows it, he and Earl are off on another grand adventure. While exploring the wilds of the kitchen, they see wondrous sights, make delicious discoveries and even encounter a couple of unusual monsters.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

If your looking for a book about hedgehogs this is the book for you. I found it a little long and a little confusing but it focuses on the nighttime adventures of a dog and hedgehog getting into trouble at night in the house. I'll never look at a hairbrush without smiling again. Very cute part. Loved the friendship. length makes it for older kids.

[Evan Childress · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buddy is a dog and Earl is a hedgehog and they are friends. One night after being put to bed, Earl tells Buddy 'Bon voyage,' and then reveals that he is going on a journey. It quickly becomes clear that their journey will be inside of the house, but that doesn't stop Early from using his incredible powers of imagination to make it an exploration that neither they (nor the family) will forget!

[Elizabeth Castro · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven't read the other Buddy and Earl books, so I found the beginning of the book confusing. My older child and teen asked who is Buddy? Which one is Earl again? Once you get into the story, it is adorable and sweet.
A dog and hedgehog go on a nighttime adventure around the house. There are many "monsters" lurking in everyday objects. The hairbrush and purse is hilarious!

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Wish me bon voyage," whispered Earl.
"Bon voyage," murmured Buddy.
"What does bon voyage mean, Earl?" asked Buddy.
"It means have a good trip," replied Earl.
"I did not know you were going on a trip," said Buddy.
"It was a spur-of-the-moment decision," admitted Earl.

And where Earl's trip takes him... oh man. It just gets better from there!

=)

[Karen Arendt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how Earl creates adventure and exploring just by looking at things differently. Sure, he thought he travelled far after running on his wheel, but how else can a dog's water dish look like a lake and a hairbrush look like a lovely hedgehog? Buddy plays right along with him. Charming.

[Jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite Buddy and Earl books! Berry and I read this SO many times. This time, Buddy and Earl discover that their home looks different at night. In fact, it may not be home at all! Instead they explore far off places together. :)

[McKenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story of friendship that will tickle the funny bone and remind many of their own pets.

[Kristen EJ Lauderdale · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish we still had visiting classes so I could read this to the older kids. They loved Buddy and Earl and this installment was hilarious, especially the hedgehog who's in love with a hairbrush.

[Carol Tilley · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first Buddy and Earl book: I think I'm in love.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious!!

[Tea_alchemist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely and fun.

[Taylor Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is super cute and fun for any age around 3+. It is about a little hedgehog and dog who live together in their families house. They are best friend's and decide to go on an adventure together. They both bring different insights to each other while they're gone and it has a really sweet ending. The book has a great amount of children's humor and was very funny to my nephew who I read it to. We both enjoyed reading it! I am excited to read more from the "Buddy and Earl" series.

[Maria Rowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a cute duo! I love how Buddy tries to be the voice of reason, but Earl loops him into mischief.

Materials used: “Acryl Gouache on watercolor paper and assembled in Photoshop”

Typeface used: unlisted