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The Adventures of Pug #3
Safari Pug
After Pug and his best friend, Lady Miranda, have a scary run-in with a lion (it might be hiding under the bed), Miranda decides Pug must face his fears-on a safari adventure! Pug becomes a bit of a scaredy-cat when he finds out he'll go nose-to-nose with a rare lion cub.
But when he realizes the safari animals are in trouble, can Pug embrace his wild side and save the day?
But when he realizes the safari animals are in trouble, can Pug embrace his wild side and save the day?
106 pages, Paperback
Published August 7, 2018
About the author
Laura James
18 books12 followersLaura James worked on projects including Veronica Guerin and Slumdog Millionaire before signing herself up for Bath Spa’s MA in Writing for Young People. The adventures of Pug are based on the antics of her very own adventurous dogs, Brian and Florence. Laura lives in the West Country.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 4, 2018
The third Pug adventure this time with lions and zoos!
With all the hot weather we had here I decided it was the perfect time to read a book with the title Safari Pug.
I already had read a few pages when I was in London in February. Sadly, my fiance didn't approve of me reading the entire book (which is kind of logical I guess) as we had a day ahead of us filled with fun activities. But now one of my libraries had this one in stock and I could read it! Such a delight.
In this one our pug and his owner are off to the zoo/safari park after Lady Miranda woke up in the middle of the night because of a nightmare featuring a big lion. Of course, she isn't afraid of a lion, oh no, it is the pug. Yep, Miranda logics. I had such a laugh to see her try to get into the safari part with her sedan chair, at least she tried. But I think that both her footman are quite delighted to not have to run away from lions, cheetahs, or other creatures. Lifting and running around with such a chair isn't easiest, and I don't think they want to run away from things. At least the zoo has another, more cuter, side that she can visit. It doesn't have lions, but hey, penguins and meerkats are also fantastic!
There is also a villain, or at least that is what I would call her, a fancy lady named Arlene von Bling (what a glittery name). She is grumpy, mean, and keeps trying to steal animals. She makes a good villain though, not only with her looks (she just has that classic villain vibe) but also with how she acts. But.. no, I won't tell you what happens to her nearer to the end. Just read, and laugh. Laugh a lot. :P
I am still loving that this book shows Pug's POV and Miranda's. Of course, the spotlight is mostly on Pug. The most adorable little dog ever!
The art was once again fabulous. The pug is just so adorable, and did I mention the cuteness of Florence? I just wanted to reach out and hug them both.
I can't wait for the next book, which features Pirates. Eep!
All in all, I would highly recommend this book to everyone. It is fun, hilarious, features cute pugs and lions. A great summer read!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
With all the hot weather we had here I decided it was the perfect time to read a book with the title Safari Pug.
I already had read a few pages when I was in London in February. Sadly, my fiance didn't approve of me reading the entire book (which is kind of logical I guess) as we had a day ahead of us filled with fun activities. But now one of my libraries had this one in stock and I could read it! Such a delight.
In this one our pug and his owner are off to the zoo/safari park after Lady Miranda woke up in the middle of the night because of a nightmare featuring a big lion. Of course, she isn't afraid of a lion, oh no, it is the pug. Yep, Miranda logics. I had such a laugh to see her try to get into the safari part with her sedan chair, at least she tried. But I think that both her footman are quite delighted to not have to run away from lions, cheetahs, or other creatures. Lifting and running around with such a chair isn't easiest, and I don't think they want to run away from things. At least the zoo has another, more cuter, side that she can visit. It doesn't have lions, but hey, penguins and meerkats are also fantastic!
There is also a villain, or at least that is what I would call her, a fancy lady named Arlene von Bling (what a glittery name). She is grumpy, mean, and keeps trying to steal animals. She makes a good villain though, not only with her looks (she just has that classic villain vibe) but also with how she acts. But.. no, I won't tell you what happens to her nearer to the end. Just read, and laugh. Laugh a lot. :P
I am still loving that this book shows Pug's POV and Miranda's. Of course, the spotlight is mostly on Pug. The most adorable little dog ever!
The art was once again fabulous. The pug is just so adorable, and did I mention the cuteness of Florence? I just wanted to reach out and hug them both.
I can't wait for the next book, which features Pirates. Eep!
All in all, I would highly recommend this book to everyone. It is fun, hilarious, features cute pugs and lions. A great summer read!
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
February 1, 2019
Safari Pug by Laura James is a cute and adorable story that both children and adults will enjoy. The pacing of the story is excellent and it moves along at a delightful clip. James does an excellent job at portraying a great deal of action, characterization, and information in just a few words. Her characterization of Pug and his thoughts is particularly adorable and endearing. Any child who has ever loved an animal will be able to identify with the sweet and affectionate bond that Lady Miranda shares with her darling Pug.
The plot of Safari Pug reminds me of Dr. Doolittle meets 101 Dalmatians. The antagonist reminded me very much of Disney's Cruela de Ville. This book would be perfect for young readers to read independently or for adults to read with their children at bed time.
The writing of this book is top notch and the illustrations make the story positively leap off of the page. An observant reader will find many hidden surprises in the bright and eye catching images. As an adult, I was particularly impressed by the fact that the illustrator used people of all shapes, sizes, and skin colors to illustrate the story. These diverse secondary characters and crowd scenes made me very happy. As a small child, I rarely saw people who looked like me in the books that I enjoyed reading. Furthermore, the characters don't feel like tokenism. They simply feel like they belong in this whimsical world because our real world is so diverse and varied.
I highly recommend Safari Pug for independent readers, families, and for anyone who enjoys a cute animal story! This book would make a great addition to a classroom or family library.
Note: I received a free hard copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. For more reviews like this one, visit my blog at http://www.BeckieWrites.com
The plot of Safari Pug reminds me of Dr. Doolittle meets 101 Dalmatians. The antagonist reminded me very much of Disney's Cruela de Ville. This book would be perfect for young readers to read independently or for adults to read with their children at bed time.
The writing of this book is top notch and the illustrations make the story positively leap off of the page. An observant reader will find many hidden surprises in the bright and eye catching images. As an adult, I was particularly impressed by the fact that the illustrator used people of all shapes, sizes, and skin colors to illustrate the story. These diverse secondary characters and crowd scenes made me very happy. As a small child, I rarely saw people who looked like me in the books that I enjoyed reading. Furthermore, the characters don't feel like tokenism. They simply feel like they belong in this whimsical world because our real world is so diverse and varied.
I highly recommend Safari Pug for independent readers, families, and for anyone who enjoys a cute animal story! This book would make a great addition to a classroom or family library.
Note: I received a free hard copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. For more reviews like this one, visit my blog at http://www.BeckieWrites.com
August 14, 2018
Thank you to Bloomsbury for my free copy!
This was a cute and humorous story about a pug who visits the zoo with his owner, Lady Miranda, and gets into all sorts of trouble while there. I need to go back and read the first two books in the Pug series, but my 3-star rating was due to feeling like there wasn't any established context for Pug's life. His owner is a child, but is referred to as Lady Miranda, which I felt could be confusing for young readers who don't understand the British class system (which, as an American teacher, is most of my students). I did love the illustrations and will definitely recommend this to students who look for funny stories with lots of character antics!
This was a cute and humorous story about a pug who visits the zoo with his owner, Lady Miranda, and gets into all sorts of trouble while there. I need to go back and read the first two books in the Pug series, but my 3-star rating was due to feeling like there wasn't any established context for Pug's life. His owner is a child, but is referred to as Lady Miranda, which I felt could be confusing for young readers who don't understand the British class system (which, as an American teacher, is most of my students). I did love the illustrations and will definitely recommend this to students who look for funny stories with lots of character antics!
August 20, 2022
This is a great step up from easy readers for young readers to enjoy. The text is simple with few words to a page. I love the color scheme and the occasional polka dotted page. Great illustrations throughout. There is a "bad guy" in this story with a gentle cliffhanger at the end of one chapter.
April 21, 2019
The second title in The Adventures of Pug chapter book series. Lady Miranda and Pug visit a safari park and save a lion cub.
January 6, 2021
Pug is back and this time he is heading out on safari (albeit reluctantly).
Lady Miranda’s pet dog Pug would be quite happy leading a dog’s life but unfortunately for him his owner has other ideas. Following a rather scary nightmare about a lion and realising that Pug is absolutely terrified, Lady Miranda has decided that Pug should meet one of the big cats and overcome his fear. And so, with Pug dressed in ranger gear and a wide-brimmed hat it is time to board the sedan chair and head out on safari…
Another funny caper from Laura James as Pug finds himself off an adventure again through none of his own choosing. You may think that the safari park sounds like the perfect day out for a dog with all the other animals to see and play with. But Pug isn’t so sure, especially when lots of the other animals have big teeth and might fancy a Pug for lunch.
Lady Miranda though is determined to see that Pug meets a lion and it isn’t long before things start to take a turn for the worse as Pug encounters lots of different animals before getting kidnapped. And before the day is out there is still time for one of his biggest fears come true as he finds himself face to face with a lion. But maybe not all lions are as scary as he first thought, especially when they come in the form of Florence the white lion cub.
Fans of Squishy McFluff and Claude will delight in the adventures of another great pet. Pug is cheeky, charming and loveable. The plot is enjoyable, the story is full of humour and the accompanying illustrations in shades of green and yellow are wonderful.
Captain Pug is a perfect read for children who are in need of a read that has more text than a picture book whilst still maintaining all the appeal of a picture book with illustrations on almost every page. The inclusion of chapters definitely make it feel like a more grown-up read which I’m sure young children will delight in.
This fast-paced and funny story will be a huge hit with animal lovers.
Recommended for 5+.
Lady Miranda’s pet dog Pug would be quite happy leading a dog’s life but unfortunately for him his owner has other ideas. Following a rather scary nightmare about a lion and realising that Pug is absolutely terrified, Lady Miranda has decided that Pug should meet one of the big cats and overcome his fear. And so, with Pug dressed in ranger gear and a wide-brimmed hat it is time to board the sedan chair and head out on safari…
Another funny caper from Laura James as Pug finds himself off an adventure again through none of his own choosing. You may think that the safari park sounds like the perfect day out for a dog with all the other animals to see and play with. But Pug isn’t so sure, especially when lots of the other animals have big teeth and might fancy a Pug for lunch.
Lady Miranda though is determined to see that Pug meets a lion and it isn’t long before things start to take a turn for the worse as Pug encounters lots of different animals before getting kidnapped. And before the day is out there is still time for one of his biggest fears come true as he finds himself face to face with a lion. But maybe not all lions are as scary as he first thought, especially when they come in the form of Florence the white lion cub.
Fans of Squishy McFluff and Claude will delight in the adventures of another great pet. Pug is cheeky, charming and loveable. The plot is enjoyable, the story is full of humour and the accompanying illustrations in shades of green and yellow are wonderful.
Captain Pug is a perfect read for children who are in need of a read that has more text than a picture book whilst still maintaining all the appeal of a picture book with illustrations on almost every page. The inclusion of chapters definitely make it feel like a more grown-up read which I’m sure young children will delight in.
This fast-paced and funny story will be a huge hit with animal lovers.
Recommended for 5+.
July 3, 2021
★ This book had a mostly positive portrayal of wealth
★ Colour scheme and layout were enjoyable
★ Introduces concepts of red herrings & gaslighting
★ Obvious foreshadowing, great for kids !
This book was written in a way that really makes a child feel like they can get a 'jump' on what's happening in the story.
Example: Each time Lady Miranda takes a photo, it happens to capture an image of Arlene von Bling {the antagonist} trying to swipe a safari animal.
Lady Miranda is wealthy and very sweet. She is also something around sheltered/naïve, and a regular, immature child. This, I think, plays well to the child readers and makes for easy discussion points regarding the silly situations.
Example: Lady Miranda has two footmen carry her around in a sedan {think, something royalty would sit in while being carried around}. She thinks they should be allowed to go into the lion safari zone with that vehicle and debates the point with the ticket seller!
I adored that this story had random green pages to break up the design and length of the story - that wasn't a thing when I was young!
Finally, this book makes it easy to discuss red herring and gaslighting types of behaviour {I may not be using the correct terms}.
Each time Arlene tries to steal a baby animal, she is accidentally foiled.
In response, she suddenly accuses that the animal was attacking her, or that she has Nooooo idea how it got in her bag!
This shows foreshadowing about the ultimate story direction, and provides a great opportunity to discuss how and why Arlene is saying and doing clashing things {such as visiting a safari while simultaneously seeming to hate all the animals} !!!
G & I will definitely be signing the other "The Adventures of Pug" books out from the library, presuming they're available! We happened on this by chance, as the library was bundling books together during covid, and placing them near the check-out.
★ Colour scheme and layout were enjoyable
★ Introduces concepts of red herrings & gaslighting
★ Obvious foreshadowing, great for kids !
This book was written in a way that really makes a child feel like they can get a 'jump' on what's happening in the story.
Example: Each time Lady Miranda takes a photo, it happens to capture an image of Arlene von Bling {the antagonist} trying to swipe a safari animal.
Lady Miranda is wealthy and very sweet. She is also something around sheltered/naïve, and a regular, immature child. This, I think, plays well to the child readers and makes for easy discussion points regarding the silly situations.
Example: Lady Miranda has two footmen carry her around in a sedan {think, something royalty would sit in while being carried around}. She thinks they should be allowed to go into the lion safari zone with that vehicle and debates the point with the ticket seller!
I adored that this story had random green pages to break up the design and length of the story - that wasn't a thing when I was young!
Finally, this book makes it easy to discuss red herring and gaslighting types of behaviour {I may not be using the correct terms}.
Each time Arlene tries to steal a baby animal, she is accidentally foiled.
In response, she suddenly accuses that the animal was attacking her, or that she has Nooooo idea how it got in her bag!
This shows foreshadowing about the ultimate story direction, and provides a great opportunity to discuss how and why Arlene is saying and doing clashing things {such as visiting a safari while simultaneously seeming to hate all the animals} !!!
G & I will definitely be signing the other "The Adventures of Pug" books out from the library, presuming they're available! We happened on this by chance, as the library was bundling books together during covid, and placing them near the check-out.
January 26, 2019
Lady Miranda and Pug have a scary midnight run in with what Lady Miranda was sure was a lion. In the morning, she decides she and Pug need to face their fears and go see a real lion at the safari park. Pug isn't so sure about this idea. Their trip to the park doesn't quite go as planned with some unexpected adventures that will truly test Lady Miranda, her footmen, and Pug to see if they have courage to meet the real dangers and challenges that come their way.
This was another great adventure with Pug and Lady Miranda. They meet some fun animals and save the day. See if readers can catch on to what is going on at the park before Lady Miranda. The plot involves a would be animal trafficker, so if you want to raise this issue to the awareness of younger readers this would be a good segue. It's handled in such a way so that it is exciting but never really scary at all. And this may be the most straight-forward plot line for any of Lady Miranda and Pug story yet. (Not that I don't enjoy whacky and random stories, but this is definitely the easiest one to follow. So if that was an issue with one of their past books for certain readers, maybe give this one a shot.) Recommended for lower grade readers who want a good adventure story with touches of humor, an exciting hero story, or an animal lover story.
This was another great adventure with Pug and Lady Miranda. They meet some fun animals and save the day. See if readers can catch on to what is going on at the park before Lady Miranda. The plot involves a would be animal trafficker, so if you want to raise this issue to the awareness of younger readers this would be a good segue. It's handled in such a way so that it is exciting but never really scary at all. And this may be the most straight-forward plot line for any of Lady Miranda and Pug story yet. (Not that I don't enjoy whacky and random stories, but this is definitely the easiest one to follow. So if that was an issue with one of their past books for certain readers, maybe give this one a shot.) Recommended for lower grade readers who want a good adventure story with touches of humor, an exciting hero story, or an animal lover story.
February 10, 2020
In this book Lady Miranda takes Pug on safari to meet the animals and face his lion fear where he sees penguins and lions however famous TV show presenter Arlene is there and tries to steal a lion cub and pug!
Can pug get away or Lady Miranda rescue him before he gets sold?!
This was a short read full of fun colourful illustrations Pug is a loveable character and I always enjoy these books.
Can pug get away or Lady Miranda rescue him before he gets sold?!
This was a short read full of fun colourful illustrations Pug is a loveable character and I always enjoy these books.
July 25, 2019
Lady Miranda, and Pug spend the day at the Safari Park, where they go in search of different animals. Pug meets a rare white lion cub, and both he and the cub are snatched by Arlene von Bling as she decides to sell them both to the highest bidder. A daring rescue is needed to save Pug and the cub.
March 21, 2022
Okay first off I love pugs and any story with pugs in it, I am going to read it. I love that a pug goes on an adventure on a safari, hoping to make the pug brave and face his little booty fears to meet a real lion! This is such a good book, I also really enjoyed the illustrations. All the colors were popping. I wish there had been another part to this story.
July 27, 2019
I thought it was a little weird and different but my first grader loved it. There’s just enough text of the page and plenty of space that she was able to read a “chapter book” without being overwhelmed.
August 31, 2018
A bedtime read aloud
March 14, 2019
A very cute book, but Lady Miranda is a rather annoying, spoiled rich kid.
February 27, 2020
Very very good
March 18, 2020
So cute and such an imaginative story!
April 2, 2020
Gorgeous illustration, cute story
December 2, 2021
I read this to my 7yo and 2yo sons. It was quick and enjoyable for them. We'll probably read more in the series. Not all that memorable a day later (maybe I was just reading too fast).
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews