Dog Squad

Dog Squad #1

by Chris Grabenstein

Introducing DOG SQUAD, the crime-fighting, tail-wagging, hilarious new series from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library and coauthor of Max Einstein!

When trouble calls . . . it's DOG SQUAD to the rescue!

Duke is not your average dog. Along with his crew, he fights crime and goes on claw-biting adventures helping dogs in peril in the hit streaming sensation--DOG SQUAD! Fred is a pretty average dog. He's scrappy. He's loveable. But he's not brave like his heroes on Dog Squad.

Fred looks an awful lot like Duke from Dog Squad though. In fact, when Duke needs a stand-in, Fred's the perfect choice. But the Dog Squad action doesn't always stop on screen! When there's danger in real life, can Fred find the courage to step up and save the day?!

It's all paws on deck in this action-packed, middle grade adventure series just right for anyone who loves dogs--and anyone who loves to laugh!

“Doggone fun.”— Kirkus Reviews

Genres: Middle Grade, Animals, Dogs, Childrens, Adventure, Fiction, Fantasy

336 pages, Paperback

First published May 11, 2021

About the author

CHRIS GRABENSTEIN is a #1 New York Times bestselling author. His books include the LEMONCELLO, WONDERLAND, HAUNTED MYSTERY, DOG SQUAD, and SMARTEST KID IN THE UNIVERSE series, and many fun and funny page-turners co-authored with James Patterson. You can visit Chris at ChrisGrabenstein.com.

Reviews

[Tara – The BookSirens Weekend Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fred is an “underdog” living in the shadow of his hero Duke. But then, when the time comes, Fred must rise to the challenge and show that he is as good as his idols. Of course, luck and mistaken identity help Fred along the way, but in the end, it all comes down to Fred’s personality and courage. An animal fiction with lively characters for the young, there’s much to learn from the story. However, the book makes for a fun read nevertheless.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is pure fun. 5th graders will love it. I listened on audiobook. Kirby Heyborne really got to shine in this one. The scenes with the tv show even had a theme song!

[Yesha- Books Teacup and Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review - https://booksteacupreviews.com/2022/0...

Dog Squad is fun and adventurous animal fiction that revolves around Fred, an average underdog who learns to be courageous and finds his forever home. The story is about bravery, courage, fighting fears, friendship, and family.

Dog lovers of all age will love Fred. He is lovely, compassionate, caring, and protective dog.All dogs are amazing, quirky, and fun to read.

Best part is all the Dog Squad scenes and their adventure. I loved how author shows through Duke that people are different from their characters in shows and movies, they aren’t always how we assum them to be. I also liked many wise lines and message of facing fear, courage and what true hero is. It was great that even humans who were mean aren’t abusive which makes the story perfect for young kids.

Overall, Dog Squad is entertaining, fun, adventurous, and fast paced animal fiction that young readers will adore and even dog lovers of all age will love to read.

I highly recommed this if you like,
dogs
animal fiction
quick adventurous story
well written action scenes by dogs
animate dog movies like Bolt

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was the best book that I've pretty much ever read. I liked it because it had a lot of funny dialogue.

[Elliot K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dog Squad, by Chris Grabenstein, is an amazing book in my opinion and portrays the perfect story, with dogs! The main theme of this story is to always stay brave and work hard. We know this because Fred is afraid to play Duke but he tries his best and works hard, and people like him better than the original Duke. He also stays brave when saving Tater from the jellyfish, he could have gotten stung but Fred just wanted to save Tater. In the book Dog Squad Fred gets a once in a lifetime chance after being thrown out twice, and with this once in a lifetime chance, he makes the best of it while helping others and it works. He becomes his dream self and he casts on his favorite show and even found himself a dream furever home (Ha pun) that every dog can wish for. Dog Squad’s genre is action adventure mixed in with some fantasy elements because in the book there are talking dogs and talking cats and there is also some telekinesis, but also daring and brave acts and adventures. The setting of the book is all over the east coast of america, but the start of the book is in New York city which was where Fred is from and later in the book he travels down south to New Jersey. Fred is the main character, he also looks identical to the tv star Duke from Dog Squad, so when they ask him to play Duke he says yes. Tater is a puppy who needs a forever home but becomes a hit member in the Dog Squad show and becomes one of Fred’s best friends. Cha Cha is the antagonist, she is always messing with Fred and playing mind tricks on him but when he ultimately saves her in the end, she stops and respects him more. Nala and Scruffy are also from the tv show Dog Squad and Fred becomes really good friends with them and they help him rescue everyone in the end of the story. Duke is an important character because he is the star of the show Dog Squad but injures himself and Fred takes over so he plots against Fred, but then Fred saves him after he gets captured.I think that this book was amazing, I think that the characters were so connected because we can feel like we’ve been thrown out, but there is always a chance to redeem yourself, you just have to work for it, just like Fred did in the book. It is like you have to work hard for your dreams to come true and you have to do something. And I think that because the characters were mainly dogs, it just made it so much more enjoyable for me to read because I really like dogs. I also think that it was super interesting that this book is based off of a real life dog. My reading experience of this book was overall very good and I enjoyed the story. I think that Fred is a great character because he goes through a story that we feel mentaly sometimes. I think that people who love dogs or just animals would love this story because the main character is a dog, and also if you like adventure and heroic stories. I think that this book is recommended for 4th graders to 7th graders.

[TheNextGenLibrarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fans of James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein’s other middle grade books will love Dog Squad!
🐶
Fred is an average dog living an average life—until he’s asked to stand in for the AMAZING Duke, star of the Dog Squad streaming show about crime-fighting dogs. But Fred isn’t known for his bravery and when the adventures start happening off-screen, can Fred face the challenge head on and be the brave dog he longs to be?
🐶
I love that Chris modeled this character after his own dog. Make sure to read the Author’s Note at the start of this book and be prepared to have the start of this new series fly off the shelves for your elementary and middle school students. Thanks @netgalley for an ARC. Grab yours on May 11!
3.5 stars

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fred is just an average dog looking for someone to love him. His owner, Fat Tony, is a mean man who wanted to train Fred to be an attack dog, but Fred is too nice and gentle. Finally, Fat Tony kicks him out of the house. On the streets alone, Fred encounters two dog-bullies harassing an older dog and steps forward to help. The bullies mistake Fred for Duke, the star of Dog Squad, a television program in which three tough dogs save the day ... every week.

Through a series of fortunate events, Fred ends up being Duke’s stand in on the television show and things just get crazy from there. It’s too bad that sometimes those heroes that you look up to, don’t really deserve your admiration.

Fred shows that nice guys can finish first. 🙂

[Mala Ashok · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am neither a child nor a dog lover; but I read "Dog Squad" regardless. Why? Because I'm a huge Chris Grabenstein fan. And, Grabenstein did not disappoint. The theme song of "Dog Squad" is "When trouble calls it's Dog Squad" to the rescue. Here the Dog Squad itself is in trouble when the lead actor Duke is injured. So, who steps in, but Fred a mutt. The understudy, Fred, has a much better attitude than Duke and saves the day many a time. There is a lot of suspense and mystery which the kids will love but what I liked most was Nala's wise sayings which will benefit the children and hopefully will seep into their subconscious. Once more a winner from Grabenstein

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chris Grabenstein is a major player in my middle school library. Pretty much everything he writes flies off the shelves, and I'm sure this one will be no different. The story is fun, and the idea of a dog starring in television show will appeal to a lot of younger readers. I adore Fred and his scrappy friends, and I loved that it was based on the author's actual dog star.

[Chance · Rating 5 out of 5]

If dogs could talk human they’d demand this to be a golden bone worthy read forever.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, easy read with some cute pictures. Easy sell to readers.

[Carissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, great book to enjoy at your leisure. I read it all in one sitting the day it came out. Very cool how the dogs interact. It has a great storyline and I highlighted a number of meaningful quotes about fear that stuck out to me. I posted them on my FB page, as I often do with book quotes that stick out.

It doesn't quite rank up there with the Lemoncello books, IMO, but it definitely has the Grabenstein funness and funky word usage. Great drawings throughout, an advantage of the hardback vs. Audio.

The biggest negative is I finished it too fast. Now I have to wait until the next one comes out. I was looking forward to this one since I first heard about it. I am glad I pre-ordered it so I had planned time jump on it right away. I ordered both the printed and audio versions. I read the printed version until the very end. Then I needed to close my eyes because it was late. My vision was getting blurry, but I wanted to finish it! :)

Chris Grabenstein never disappoints me. Although not geared towards my age range at all (43) I still enjoy every single one. There are valuable lessons that often come out in humorous ways!

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Random House Children's Publishing through NetGalley.
Dog lovers of all ages will cheer for these strays who find their forever home and star in top rated TV show. Fred has lost his first home when his owner's fiance didn't want him. He ended up in a second home with a thug named Tony. He was thrown out and captured. At the dog shelter, he is selected to audition for a Broadway show. And, this is all in the first few chapters. From here, Grabenstein shares Fred's life as he interacts with a variety of other TV dogs and newbies who will become TV stars. Readers see that Fred is a real hero as he rescues other dogs and children throughout the book.
The author shares that Fred is based on one of his own dogs and this connection comes through in the writing. The love shines through the humor and adventure. Middle grade readers will appreciate the shorter chapters and fast pace.
Hope this is the start of a new series.

[Chloe Athanasiou · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just loved the creativity. It was such a hilarious read that I struggled to put down! If your a big dog fan, or just looking for a way to appreciate your canine companion, this book is for you! The characters were magnificently put together, and Chris Grabenstein did a magnificent job capturing the nature of our furry friends.
If I had to change one thing though, I think I would take out the part about Abby having a psychic connection with Tater, just because I don't think it really fit in with the rest of the story and is such a small detail, the story would be just fine without it.
Other than that, I would highly recommend Dog Squad for everyone!
Age group: 9+ (obviously you should read what you want when you want to!)
Genre: Fantasy
Rating:4.9

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fred has always dreamed of becoming part of The Dog Squad, a fictional television show with humans voicing the roles played by dogs. Fred has never had much luck with owners, but his current one is the worst, training Fred to be a vicious guard dog. After he is abandoned, Fred is picked up and delivered to a shelter where he auditions to be in a Broadway show, but that is not meant to be, so Fred finds himself as temporary replacement for the injured lead, Duke, from Dog Squad.

Dog Squad is a cute mystery/adventure about dogs who can talk to each other and communicate with humans. Fred is the likable stray whose only real ambition is to find a home. The kidnapping mystery just adds a layer to a book that is already filled with so much heart. Kudos to Chris Grabenstein for using actual Broadway Animal Trainers who find loving homes for dogs as inspiration for this story. Overall, Dog Squad is a fun middle grade book for dog lovers everywhere.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chris Grabenstein writes such a great variety of books- fantasy in Island of Dr. Libris, his action-filled, imaginative Lemoncello series, Shine is heart-felt and gently teaches readers life truths...Dog Squad is light-hearted and dog-filled and fits in more with his Welcome to Wonderland series, but is not quite as long and likely a slightly lower reading level. The plot is simple and straight-forward, but has plenty of hilarious hijinks as a variety of pooches work together to film a TV show about a team of heroic dogs and deal with the interruptions of canines with less than admirable intentions and one not so nice, ne’er-do-well dog owner. In his afterword, Grabenstein explains that the book’s main character, Fred, is modeled after his real life dog who was discovered at a rescue center, became an actor on stage, and was later adopted by him and his wife J.J. Readers in grades 4-6 who enjoy humorous animal stories will love this one. Librarians and ELA teachers will give this book to their students with no worries about content and thankfulness that it has strong character development, clear plot progression, and excellent descriptive passages. Thanks for the dARC, NetGalley!

[Amy Hodges · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy Chris Grabenstein's books and Dog Squad was equally as enjoyable. The short and action filled chapters are sure to hook young and reluctant readers into the story. I loved how this book was inspired by the author's experience of adopting his own dog. Readers are sure to fall in love with Fred as they follow his adventure on and off the screen. This is a great choice for all middle grade readers.

[Sarah (thebookmarauder) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you PRH International for the gifted digital ARC.

I'm not really sure why I picked a children's book up but I'm so so glad I did. I honestly did not expect my adult self to enjoy it as much as I did! I was hooked! This is a really fun story that kids and adults should definitely read. It talks about the importance of kindness, friendship, family, bravery and being true to oneself.

I do hope this is a series. I would love to read more!

[Librarylady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chris Grabenstein has another winner with Dog Squad, the first book in a new series that is sure to be a favorite with middle grade readers. Follow the action as Fred, a lovable dog, is adopted and becomes the new star in the TV show Dog Squad. Amazingly, this book is based on the true story of Chris Grabenstein's real dog. Fast paced, action packed, and full of humor, I couldn't put it down and finished the same day I started.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was extremely cute! I really like Fred and thought he was a good hero for this book. In terms of story, this is similar to the Prince and the Pauper tale. I also loved this line and I think it should be part of a motivational poster: "Fear has two meanings...Forget Everything And Run. Or Face Everything And Rise. The choice is yours." Isn't that a great line?!

Verdict: This book was a worthwhile read.

[Donna Higgins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't stop reading!

Dog Squad is one adventure after another. I cannot wait to read it with my students this summer! They are going to be in dog heaven.

[harper swan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's ok

[Lisa D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Cute book!

[Anna]

Read with Miles at bedtime over the last two months! Cute book

[Murtaza Kuwarawala · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title - Dog Squad

Author - Chris Grabenstein

Genre - Middle Grade

Received an e-arc from NetGalley. Thank you so much Penguin Books

Plot:

Dog Squad is the story of Fred, an average dog who looks upto Duke, a superhero dog on TV. What he doesn't realise earlier is that he is apparently a lookalike of Duke and when he gets thrown into a kennel, his life is going to change forever. He is then taken in as Duke since Duke is injured and how he wins everyone's heart in this adventurous novel.

My thoughts on the book:

My reviews for Middle Grade books are generally not that long since they need to be read to experience. The book does manage to bring that little smile on your face throughout eventhough you generally know what comes next. What's even more heart melting is the story of author's dog Fred upon whom the titular character is based, who ultimately found his furever home.

So if you are looking for a thrilling Middle Grade book for you or your kids, this one won't disappoint one bit. On the contrary, your child might ask you to adopt one little friend for themselves.

[Lisa Welch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a big hit with my students as a read aloud. Lots of great vocabulary and an engaging storyline. And......anything with animals is always a win in their eyes.

[Audrielle Diaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun especially as a dog lover🐶

[Jill CD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, fun, with memorable and funny dog characters. Kids will love this entertaining adventure.

[Cris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dog Squad is a tv show about dogs who are modern day Lassie’s. Fred is a normal dog who has a few rough bumps along the way. When people think Fred is the hero from Dog Squad, his life changes.

This is such a cute story about dogs and how they are treated in life. Dogs have feelings just like humans, and they just want a home, to be loved and to be cherished.

[Jessica F · Rating 3 out of 5]

"When trouble calls... it's Dog Squad to the rescue!"