Best Friends Forever

Knitbone Pepper #1

by Claire Barker

Knitbone Pepper is a friendly ghost dog, haunting the crumbling Starcross Hall with a gaggle of other ghostly pets. But when he discovers that the Hall is up for sale and his beloved owner, Winnie Pepper, and her madcap parents must leave their home, he smells a rat. Can Knitbone and his ghostly gang of animals help Winnie save Starcross?

Genres: Animals, Childrens, Ghosts, Fiction, Middle Grade, Humor

256 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2015

Reviews

[Ksenia (vaenn) · Rating 4 out of 5]

До постмодернізму дітей треба привчати змалечку. Оце-от книжка для 6-8-річок, де герой помирає прямо в першому розділі.
Гаразд, жартую - це не постмодернізм, а добра й весела казка про привидів. Хоча...

Гав'яз Пеппер - звичайний собі дворняга, улюбленець чудової Вінні Пеппер, остатього паростку на дещо підсохлому аристократичному дереві. Гавчик прожив довге й щасливе життя і тихо полишив його в оточенні люблячої родини. От тільки "помер він якось неправильно". Безмежно прив'язаний до малої хазяйки песик лишився в замку Старкрос... імовірно назавжди. Погана новина: бути привидом ажніяк невесело. Хороша новина: Гавчик не один такий відданий Улюбленець, а коли вас багато і попереду - неабиякі виклики (наприклад, доведеться рятувати родовий маєток Пепперів від підступних загарбників), що ж, все ще може стати весело!

"Друзі назавжди" - це дуже мила і, що для мене було особливо цінно, дуже британська дитяча книжка. Клер Баркер жонглює впізнаваними кліше британської пригодницької літератури, часом ставить їх на голову, часом - шанобливо вивертає навиворіт, вона віддає належне класиці книжок про тварин, невпинно, але по-доброму іронізує з приводу підупалої на силі аристократії, а не дуже по-доброму - провінційних бюрократів та телевізійних мисливців на привидів, витискає 220 км/год з теми "Дитина - єдина доросла людина в родині" і дуже делікатно говорить про депресію, переживання втрати, пошук нової цілі у житті, що начеб безповоротно змінилося, віншує дружбу і відданість, а ще розповідає про користь імбирного печива й регулярних прибирань на горищі. Команда ексцентричних привидів тварин - це просто вогонь (хом'ячок Мартін - мій герой назавжди, хоча ж там ще є схиблена на чайних ложечках мавпочка Орландо!), і ця дитяча книжка - дуже приємний варіант для спільних читань, дорослій мені було весело. Але я - англоманка, це теж треба врахувати.

Плюс далі - точно буде, я перевіряла :)

[Simona Stoica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recenzia completă: http://palarisme.ro/chef/carti/recenz...

„O fantomă lipsită de vlagă este o fantomă ridicolă.”

Mă ataşez foarte repede de animale. Îmi place să mă joc afară, fie că este o zi călduroasă de vară sau o seară friguroasă de iarnă, cu câinii mei năzdrăvani, care mă pândesc la geamul bucătăriei când gătesc şi aproape mă dărâmă când vin cu „delicatese” la ei. Merită să fie răsfăţaţi. În timp ce ei dărâmă găleţile cu apă, ca să îmi atragă atenţia, pisicile stau ca nişte regine în casă, aşteptând să fie mângâiate, hrănite şi alintate. Doar sunt sclava lor, nu?

Când merg acasă, sunt copleşită de nerăbdarea cu care vreau să îi văd. Uit de micile noastre neînţelegeri, de nisipul pe care trebuie să-l schimb, de serenadele de la 3 dimineaţa şi de cărţile mele turtite (dacă nu au norocul să fie hardcover), aparent cele mai bune „scărpinătoare” din Univers pentru Tasha, poreclită „Regina Mamă”, „şefa” necuvântătoarelor şi o pufoșenie cu o personalitate puternică şi o blăniță superbă, pe care o spală şi în somn, ca să arate întotdeauna perfect. Ah, să nu uit: are tendinţe narcisiste.

Nu pot să aleg între pisici şi câini, dar am decis ca Tătănuș Pipăruş să aibă un avantaj în fața Pisicilor Războinice. Cu nelipsita mea cană cu ceai (papaya + mango) alături, m-am ascuns aseară în bibliotecă, împreună cu Tasha şi cu Insomnia, prietena mea cea posesivă, de care nu reuşesc să mai scap.

Dragostea mea faţă de cărţile pentru copii pare să crească pe zi ce trece, cu fiecare roman citit, altfel nu-mi explic cum am devorat volumul în mai puţin de o oră. Când ai un protagonist atât de adorabil şi de deosebit ca Tătănuș Pipăruş, care te salută cu bucurie de pe copertă, cu urechile ciufulite şi o barbă pe măsură, paginile se întorc singure, până la ilustraţia finală, care îţi încălzeşte sufletul.

Starcross Hall este reşedinţa familiei Pipăruş de 904 ani. Un conac imens, care mai are puţin şi se prăbuşeşte, cu numeroase încăperi şi coridoare misterioase, săli de bal, ascunzători, secrete şi un pod în care se antrenează fantomele, atunci când nu mai sunt mulţumite de „forma” lor. La prima vedere, reşedinţa şi-a pierdut din strălucire, dar toate problemele şi imperfecţiunile nu îi deranjează pe doamna şi pe domnul Pipăruş, cu atât mai puţin pe fiica lor, Winnie.

O familie... specială. Soţii Pipăruş nu au slujbe, doar hobby-uri neobişnuite şi idei năstruşnice, care prind formă şi contur pe toată suprafaţa conacului, transformând uneori grădina într-o junglă periculoasă, cu capcane şi surprize la tot pasul. Atmosfera de la Starcross Hall este încărcată cu energie pozitivă şi fiecare zi reprezintă o nouă aventură. Nimic nu este exagerat, ridicol sau imposibil. Până când Tătănuș Pipăruş moare, iar zâmbetul dispare de pe chipul lui Winnie.

„Domnul şi doamna P., Winnie, pălăriile, coridoarele pline de ecouri, şemineele cochete şi vechiul drum de pământ – aceasta era întreaga lume a lui Tătănuș. Dar acum, din cauza unei morţi nesuferite, lumea aceea se întorsese cu susul în sus.”

[Ruzaika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received with many thanks in exchange for an honest review from Usborne Publishing UK.

Another version of this review can be found here.

The story starts with Knitbone Pepper wondering about Heaven being nothing spectacular- it only seemed to be full of stripy socks, jumpers and the smell of washing powder. Huh? No squirrels, sausage sandwiches, delicious bones, or even a single squeaky ball? He soon comes to the realization that he wasn't in Heaven after all!

Knitbone Pepper wasn't very good at maths (he was, after all, a dog), but even he had to admit that

Dead + Still Here = Ghost

While feeling young and sprightly was all good, Knitbone is very miserable ghost dog indeed because his best friend and owner Winnie Pepper misses him terribly and doesn't know he is still stuck at Starcross Hall. Try what he may, he just can't get through to her and that makes him incredibly sad. Things are looking very awful for Knitbone until one day a note is slipped under the door of the wardrobe where he mopes around, inviting him to be a member of S.O.S. (Spirits of Starcross). S.O.S. turns out to be a group of Pepper Beloveds with a penchant for ginger biscuits.

A Beloved's love for their special human is so strong that they do not fade away. They are the most loyal and brave of animal ghosts and will defend their people and their home to the last.

Knitbone suddenly finds himself in the company of a gang of animal ghost friends, and he feels life could just be bearable in limbo after all. However, the Peppers are soon under the threat of losing their home, and it's upto Knitbone and his new ghostly friends to prevent Starcross Hall from falling into the wrong hands.

Peppered (see what I did there?) with the most lovely illustrations, this first book in the Knitbone Pepper Ghost Dog series is packed with fun, hilarity and endearing characters. I loved Winnie and Knitbone's relationship, and a tough subject such as the death of a beloved pet was dealt with very well indeed. Apart from Knitbone, Winnie and Winnie's gloriously nutty parents, the other ghostly animal characters turned out to be very, very adorable too.

All in all, while this book is no doubt meant for a much, much younger audience (age 7+), it still proved to be extremely entertaining and didn't fail to keep me glued to its pages. Paw on heart, this book was just pawsome!

As he saw it, the Peppers were his family, and families stick together. Blood was thicker than custard, or something along those lines. So (in a move that was not dissimilar to sticking his paws in his ears and going tra-lalalalalalala), Knitbone simply decided to ignore being dead and cary on as if nothing had happened.

[Chris Callaghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully fun and quirky story, full of fantastic characters and charm. Knitbone has quickly become my favourite literary dog!

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do tych książek podchodziłam nieco sceptycznie - powieści o psie, który jest duchem? Tak koncepcja mnie nie przekonywała. I chyba moja rezerwa przeniosła się na syna, który przez pierwsze dwa rozdziały nie wykazywał szczególnego zainteresowania lekturą. Uronił nawet kilka łez, gdy czytałam mu o rozpaczy głównej bohaterki po utracie psa. Już myślałam, że będziemy musieli odłożyć te książki na później, ale syn niespodziewanie polubił Kostka i Dusię i z zapartym tchem słuchał o i przygodach.

Akcja rozgrywa się w Pechowej Woli, gdzie mieszka rodzina Pepperów. Niezwykle ekscentryczna rodzina. Biedni jak mysza kościelna i dziwaczni arystokraci rezydują w rozsypującym się dworze. Jedyną rozsądną osobę w rodzinie wydaje się być Dusia. Lord i lady Pepper spędzają dni na kolekcjonowaniu dziwacznych nakryć głowy i roztrząsywaniu nieprawdopodobnych kwestii w stylu czy pingwiny mają kolana? Gdy do rodziny dołącza znaleziony w krzewach żywokostu pies, staje się on największych przyjacielem i powiernikiem Dusi. Kostek Pepper jednak umiera i życie dziewczynki wypełnia rozpacz. Nie wie niestety, że Kostek nadal obok niej jest, ale jako duch. Do tego nie sam, wraz z nim Pechową Wolę zamieszkują duchy innych pupili, których panie lub panowie już dawno nie żyją. Kostek jest tak samo nieszczęśliwy jak Dusia i gorączkowo szuka sposobu na nawiązanie z nią kontaktu.

Ciąg dalszy: https://przeczytalamksiazke.blogspot....

[Yulia Maleta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Оцінку ставлю, враховуючи враження дитини, якій так сподобалася книжка, що перечитали її вже вдруге. Вперше вона стала нам у нагоді два роки тому, коли раптово не стало нашої киці — улюблениці доньки. Попри те, що моя дитина рано стикнулася із втратами рідних, смерть тварини теж стала ударом. І в цій книжці улюбленець дівчинки — Гав'язик Пеппер — помирає вже у першому розділі, але залишається біля дівчинки вже у ролі привида. Це дозволило м'яко поговорити про те, що ті, кого ми любимо, завжди біля нас, доки ми про них пам'ятаємо❤️‍🩹

Але і без цього це весела історія про дружбу і порятунок будинку в такій британській атмосфері з відсилками до відомих літературних героїв та митців. Єдине — тут батьки дівчинки поводять себе ну надто інфантильно, їхня донька — єдина доросла у родині. Але й таке часто буває. Будемо читати продовження

[Adele Broadbent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Knitbone Pepper is a very old dog. The story begins as his family (The Peppers) are saying goodbye, and then he falls asleep. He doesn't see the Pearly Gates as expected.

Feeling like a young pup again is fantastic but being a ghost isn't much fun at first. His best friend Winnie is very sad and upset without him, and nothing he does can make her know he is right next to her, watching her cry. Knitbone soon becomes as sad as Winnie - until a note slides under the wardrobe door where he sleeps....

The 'Beloveds' are a group of ghost pets that have belonged to the Pepper family throughout the many years they have lived at Starcross Hall, and they want to help him learn how to deal with being a ghost.

But when the Peppers are suddenly under threat of losing their family home, and Winnie will have to move away, the pets are determined to save them - especially Knitbone Pepper.

This is a fun read, full of fantastic illustrations by Ross Collins. With funny characters, and packed with humorous similie, this would be a great read-a-loud to classes aged 8+ learning to write their own stories.

[Natalia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Estos libros son fantásticos. No solo son divertidos y muy entretenidos, también hablan de la importancia de la familia, de la lealtad, la amistad y la honestidad. Las historias son tiernas y emotivas, pero también están llenas de aventuras, son alocadas y muy divertidas, ¡menudo es el elenco de Bienamados!

Reseña: http://www.arte-literario.com/2016/07...

[Christa Schönmann Abbühl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Someone asked for this series at the library, and I got them, even though the German edition is out of print. I was instantly smitten by the premise and the illustrations. And as the English version is not available (to me?) on Kindle, I bought myself the audio.

And what a pleasure it is to just sit there and enjoy a sweet ghost story about pets who do stay on after death - because the are Beloved.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kids and I loved this book. The book opens right away with a family's beloved dog dying, and then coming to grips with his life as a ghost. This actually gave rise immediately to good conversations with my seven-year olds about pet lifespan and mortality more broadly. Plus -- how can you not love a dog named Knitbone who saves the day?

[Verity · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully idiosyncratic book with fun characters and a snappy pace. My nearly-8 year old son loved it and is re-reading it avidly, we're definitely both keen to get hold of the others in the series!

[Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book for kids and adults definitely read this book, sooooo good!

[Rasa || beviltiska_romantike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Visai smagi knygutė į Šmėklinių temą su draugiškais, mielais vaiduokliais, gražiai pateikiama mirtimi, gedulu (net pačiai gerklę gniaužė vienu metu skaitant), ir augintinių ištikimybe net ir po mirties, nepamirštant ir humoro - vaikams smagu buvo klausytis apie vaiduoklių išdaigas, ypač gerai suėjo oro gadinimo juokeliai. Penkiametė retkarčiais nuobodžiaudavo, beveik aštuomečiui buvo labai įdomu.

[Vivien · Rating 5 out of 5]

Claire Barker lebt mit ihrer Familie und ihren Tieren auf einem Bauernhof in England. Bevor sie sich ganz dem Schreiben widmete, hatte sie diverse Jobs. Die Illustrationen stammen von Ross Collins. Ein zweiter Teil erschien bereits auf englisch.
Pelle von Pimpernell lebt ein wunderbares Hundeleben. Mit seiner besten Freundin, dem Mädchen Winnie, und ihren Eltern, wohnt er in Haus Sternenblick. Doch Winnie ist schon alt und eines Tages ist seine Zeit gekommen und er stirbt. Doch statt im Himmel zu landen, wurde er ein Geist, den keiner sehen und hören kann – auch seine geliebte Winnie nicht. Als dann auch noch sein wundervolles Zuhause droht Zwangsversteigert zu werden, muss Pelle unbedingt etwas unternehmen!
Ich hatte richtig viel Spaß mit diesem Buch! Die Geschichte ist abenteuerlich und es wird viel herumgespukt, doch ohne irgendwie gruselig zu sein. Es geht um Freundschaft und Hilfsbereitschaft.
Das Buch ist sehr liebevoll gestaltet. Die zahlreichen Zeichnungen sind schwarz-weiß, nur die Geister werden blau dargestellt. Einige Texte sind aufwendig dargestellt, wie beispielsweise Briefe oder ein Zeitungsartikel.
Für Fans von: Der Tag, an dem mein Meerschweinchen Kriminaloberkommissar wurde

Schau für weitere Rezensionen gern auch auf meinem Blog www.buchstuetze.wordpress.com vorbei!

[Luna's Little Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this pretty much because of the first page. In which Knitbone bemoans the boringness of heaven. He later realises he’s stuck in his owner’s cupboard and is in fact a ghost dog. It was the writing and the adorable (I will try not to repeat ‘adorable’ too often in this review but seriously this book is just too adorable) narration that hooked me.

Being a ghost dog isn’t that great when your owner can’t see you and joining the S.O.S. (Spirits of Starcross) seems to involve eating more ginger biscuits then protecting Starcross Hall from the Hedge Hider.

Ross Collins illustrations are lovely and fit perfectly with the story (plus the Beloved are adorable) and as I’ve already mentioned the narration is what made me but the book in the first place. I adored (it’s nearly adorable) the story Claire Barker has written, it’s fun but also has heart with Knitbone and Winnie’s relationship being the focus.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit that I quite enjoyed this one, it was slow to start but the plot played out nicely and the treatment of Krispin had me chuckling.

A sign of how good a children's book is can be shown by how interested my daughter is, some books can be long winded and she gets bored. This one had plenty of laughs and mayhem in it so it kept her interest all the way through, she is now demanding the next book in the series.

The book deals with the death of a pet and Winnie's grief is well written, it was very touching. The collection of ghosts were some great characters and I always enjoy it when a character has a funny accent for me to do so Orlando was my favourite.

If you got kids who still let you read to them then I highly recommend this book.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVED this book.

Albeit it being about a dying pet (which no one wants to think about) this children's book handles the issue in such a way that it may for some, under the circumstances, make the issue more palatable.

Recently deceased Knitbone is determined to make his owner, Winnine, see him again. When his home comes under attack Knitbone and his gang of ghosty animal friends make a plan to ensure Starcross Hall doesn't fall into the hands of the greedy sister-brother duo trying to take hold of it.

Funny and full of charm this story is a must read!

[Laura Frunza · Rating 2 out of 5]

O carte cam dark, pentru copiii cu asemenea înclinații, despre un grup de animale-fantome, rămase în urmă, prin preajma stăpânilor lor după ce au murit (animalele, nu stăpânii). Poate fi o carte de încurajare pt un copil care și-a pierdut un animal drag, pentru că îi poate crea impresia că spiritul animalului încă mai e acolo, sau poate avea chiar efect contrat, copilul așteptându-se să intre în contact cumva cu animalul mort.
Dar, per total, e o carte haioasă, previzibilă și perfectă pentru copilașii iubitori de căței.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life is hard when you are a ghost trying to save your old home but your beloved mistress can’t see you... fortunately Knitbone Pepper has the society of beloved souls and all the ginger biscuits they can find to help. They are going to need it...

[Kalilah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, fast-paced, humorous read with an original cast of ghostly animal detectives.

[Mathew · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happens when a dog so well-loved just doesn’t want to leave his owner when he dies? In the warm and wholesome story, Knitbone Pepper, faithful hound of a young, Winnie Pepper presents us with the solution: you stay on as a ghost. And because the Peppers have lived at Starcross Hall for several generations, Knitbone finds, to his surprise, that other ghosts had chosen to remain and preserve the Pepper name too.

Getting Winnie to realise that he is still on the earth with her is only the tip of Knitbone’s problems. Unbeknownst to him and Winnie, the Pepper family are flat broke and it isn’t long before some greedy schemers turn up at the doorstep to claim Starcross as their own. What can Knitbone and the rest of the spirits of Starcross do to save their home and their family?

The first in a gently funny series with tropes and characters that young readers will find easy to love and boo at, Knitbone Pepper has a charming cast and a steady plot to bind the whole thing together. Collins’ illustrations do so much to emanate the sense of fun and warmth that comes from Barker’s text: a perfect book to fill in that gap for transitional reads between Year 2/3 readers and upwards.

[Kathy Perry · Rating 4 out of 5]

We are reading the series, as part of our Home Education plan. My 8 year old son enjoyed listening to this story and the illustrations were very helpful for him. I found the many ghost characters a bit confusing - struggling to keep in my head which names belonged to which ghosts. I felt it could use some reinforcement at times. The plot has all the elements an 8 year old is looking for - intrigue, mysterious and dangerous strangers, a loyal dog and close relationship with his child owner, wonderfully free-spirited parents - My son: 'Can WE slide down the bannister rail?' (NO).

A lovely story. My son was keen to move straight on to the second in the series, Knitbone Pepper and the Last Circus Tiger - which we completed within a week.

[Krissie Yates · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an absolutely amazing read!!!! Me and my youngest have been engrossed in this book for the last few evenings. Everyday we'd be super excited to snuggle up and read more wishing the evening to come quickly. The book has us hooked from the first page, it kept us completely engrossed in it and it was such an emotional, fun, exciting, heartwarming read. We can't wait to dive into the next one in the series.

[Esme Douthwaite · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is sooooooooo much fun! I’ve read this book before along with the circus tiger one but had forgotten them, so when I found this one and the horse one and the new phantom one at the library I was really exited! I finished this one and the moon one in two days each and I am starting the phantom one! These books are really good and I definitely recommend them.

[Sharron Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book for 8-12 year olds and as a reading group choice. Fantastic illustrations, great baddies & likeable characters. Leaves you rooting for the slightly eccentric Peppers & laughing out loud at the funny word play.

[Sean Harding · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somehow this book worked - the story of a ghost dog, with the weird name Knitbone Pepper engages the reader and is full of entertaining scenes and a plot that takes you alone for the ride, with plenty of humour to be had along the way, a good solid read.

[Cadie Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute and funny story! My students and I adored it! They can't wait to read the next ones and neither can I. The book is about a dog who stays with his girl when he dies and lets all be real. We all secretly hope our old pets are still hanging out with us, keeping us safe.

[Kristina Lukosevice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Labai smagi knyga apie šunelį vaiduoklį ir jo draugelius vaiduoklius :) Kvatojomės abi su šešiamete dukra. Tikrai rekomenduoju!

[Jennifer Macleod · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book. I have read all three to my 11 & 9 year old, we all loved them.

[Ayesha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a delight to read. Barker has a knack for making the words roll of off your tongue and we are loving the clever humour, hilarious descriptions as well as the engaging storyline of this series.