The Case of the Mixed-Up Mutts

Buddy Files #2

by Dori Hillestad Butler, Jeremy Tugeau (Illustrator)

Buddy was adopted from the P-O-U-N-D and he likes his new family, but he's still searching for Kayla-his first family. What has happened to them? He hopes to solve that mystery soon, but right now he's got another urgent case-two dogs, Muffin and Jazzy, have been switched! How can Buddy get poor Muffin and Jazzy back to their real owners?

Genres: Mystery, Childrens, Chapter Books, Animals, Family, Dogs, 2nd Grade

128 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Dori Hillestad Butler is an American author of more than 40 children's books, as well as magazine stories, plays and educational materials. Her first book, The Great Tooth Fairy Rip-Off, was published in 1997. She is known particularly for The Truth about Truman School, a 2008 young adult title focusing on the subject of cyber bullying, and for My Mom's Having a Baby (illustrated by Carol Thompson), which in 2011 appeared on the American Library Association's list of most commonly challenged books in the United States for its portrayal of conception and childbirth. Her 2010 mystery title, Buddy Files: Case of the Last Boy, won the 2011 Edgar Award for the best juvenile mystery published in 2010. Before becoming a children's author, Butler worked for three years as a page at a library.

Reviews

[Mloy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I often check out the books that nephew likes to read just to see what he's into and most of the time I end up reading the series he likes, and this was one of those cases; "The Buddy Files" is a fun series to follow. The characters are very likable, especially the book's super-sleuth canine hero, Buddy- he just oozes adorableness and the mysteries he tries to solve are often enjoyable and chock full of good lessons. It so nice to read a book that encourages critical thinking especially from an audience as young as this book's target demographic. Entertaining, humorous at times, full of adventure and heart, this books has everything that'll keep readers engaged and best of all, you'll probably finish it in one sitting! What's not to love?

[Alita G]

I just read the case of the Mixed-Up Mutts. Buddy has two friends named Jazzy and Muffin. One day Jazzy and Muffin went to the park and the owners got mixed up with their dogs. Buddy always goes with Jazzy to training school but one day Muffin was there instead of Jazzy.Buddy had to figure out a way to get them back home.Something I relate to jazzy is that she misses her owner just like the owner misses her the owner figured out that Jazzy was Muffin and she was really sad. If I got the wrong dog I would be super sad!! This book is gets you mysterious every single page so I recommend the mixed up mutts.

[Sarah - All The Book Blog Names Are Taken]

Eleanor says: I love dogs. That is why I like the series. I also like mysteries. In this book Buddy has to solve a mystery. I liked when they solved the mystery.

[Jenn M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another cute episode in The Buddy Files, a series of books about a case-solving golden retriever named Buddy...at least that's the name that he's going by for now.

Did you know that dogs have a network? They can pass messages through the network to learn information. Dogs know where they are by smell; they can find their way by following their noses. Buddy is looking for his first family who have disappeared and have been gone for a long time. But, he's also trying to correct a big mix-up. Two similar-looking dogs got switched at the dog park and the wrong dog went home with the wrong owner!

Follow Buddy and his dog friends as they track down clues in order to set things right in their dog universe. In this book, you'll learn that dogs own people, not the other way around. And, obedience school is to teach the humans; dogs already know what to do. Now, if humans could just understand dog speech a little better. It's downright difficult to get things done when the humans don't understand what the dogs are trying to tell them.

Younger children that read chapter books will particularly enjoy these books, and others who are young at heart and imaginative will find something to like as well.

[Nola Decker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me and my 6yo son just love this series. The text is simple enough for him to read to himself but interesting enough that I want him to read it out loud so I can enjoy it too! The author excels at capturing the canine mindset. The main character Buddy is a well-developed character, so well-developed that my son sometimes talks about him like he's a real dog that he knows. Okay, maybe I talk about him that way too! Laugh out loud funny at times but with a emotional edge and some age-appropriate tension. Can't wait to read the next one!

[Angie Kohout · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plot: Buddy has a new family. His new family takes him to obience class where he meets some new friends. His new friends tell him of how they've been switched at the dog park. Follow Buddy and Mouse as they set off to straighten out the case of how Muffin and Jazzy got mixed up.

Setting: United States

Characters: Buddy, Mouse, Jazzy, Muffin, Owen, Mom.

Point-of view: First person.

Theme: Mystery.

Style: Fiction, no particular style.

[Cameron B · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about the's dogs trying to escape from the pound to find there owners.the dogs names are King, Mouse, Muffin, and Cat with no name im at the part where they found the house that kings owners live at but they werent there. so its a mystery book and its a pretty good mystery book to read.

[Delaney Mchenry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought that this book was really good because it was active it was a mystery it made me wonder what was going to happen or what they going to find at the end. I really enjoyed reading this book ad I would love to read third.

[Haley Osborn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose “The Case of The Mixed up Mutts", by Dori Hillestad Butler. The date of the publication was 2010. This book is a dog detective book. The setting takes place in Springtown, Minnesota. The main character in the book is named King or Buddy. In this book, two pugs get mixed up and buddy helps to figure out the problem. Buddy likes to solve problems. He always carries a list in his head for identifying clues.

I like this book because of the surprise in it like the author keeps you in suspense until the end of the book. I enjoy reading funny stories that include animals. I would recommend this book to others because it is funny and if you like detective books you would really like this book. Since I was born I have had a dog and many more pets and caring for pets is the basic history of me. The love of animals brought me to the shop at Essex Tech for Companion Animals.

[Elizabeth Castro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dori Hillestad Butler doesn't write from an adult mindset, but from a dog's point of view. I mean that in every sense, because I forgot Buddy wasn't in the room with me. It was easy to skip my housework and get immersed into helping Buddy solve the mystery, and I'm an adult.
The Case of the Mixed-Up Mutts is non stop (believable) action, just enough to make me hold my breath, but nothing too scary for kids.
This mystery had a few dog facts thrown in, with a heap of happy feelings and a positive family message towards the end. I recommend this book to elementary readers who read level two or three "I Can Read Books."

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first The Buddy Files book my son and I have read together. It won't be the last; we'll be checking out some more this week. The text is simple enough for him to read and comprehend, but the story is complex enough for me to be interested.

[Shannon Massey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to download the Libby app from the library because the boys couldn’t wait to read the next buddy book, and I wasn’t able to find it at the local bookstore. Engaging for me as a parent, the boys loved every minute of it.

[Hayley Schmolze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun and easy read. I'm sure I'll read this to my first graders at some point. I love this series! :)

[Andrea Tingey · Rating 4 out of 5]

So fun, witty, and enjoyable. A happy perspective of a dogs personality.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fun read which did not disappoint. King/Buddy is a great narrator. My kids and I have loved trying to figure out what is going to happen and wondering about King/Buddy's shifting identity.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Preferred it to book 1 and I think it held my daughter’s attention more.

[Tessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has Buddy pursuing a side quest when he learns that one of his classmates in obedience school was switched with another pug. My daughter and I love this series, it’s so cute and fun.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marvelous book for dog lovers in grades 3-5. Buddy (formerly known as King) is a compassionate yellow lab who fancies himself quite the detective. Although he has his own mystery yet to solve (his former owners put him in a kennel and never returned), he busies himself in this story with the problem of two switched-at-the-park pugs. How does he get each pug with his and her rightful owners. Especially when no one knows the human who switched the dogs or where he lives.

[W.H. Beck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buddy was adopted from the P-O-U-N-D and he likes his new family, but he's still searching for Kayla-his first family. What has happened to them? He hopes to solve that mystery soon, but right now he's got another urgent case-two dogs, Muffin and Jazzy, have been switched! How can Buddy get poor Muffin and Jazzy back to their real owners?

[Hoco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buddy, who had been called as KING, seeks his lost family. But he has to solve another problem, switching back mixed-up pags whose names are Jazzy and Muffin. Through solving this problem, he got the clue to find out his old family. I'm anxious about them because they would be involved in a terrible disaster. So I hurry to read the third book!

[Kelly]

I love the Buddy Files, as this series of books is called. The author does a great job of putting you in a dog’s mindset – every food is your favorite, digging holes is fun, dogs talk to each other. It’s also a funny book.

[Smilinhere · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read to my son (7-yr old) he LOVED it (he's also a dog-lover)

The story is written from the dog's point of view & by changing my voice a few times - with each dog ... made it TONS of fun for me & my boys!! :) My prayer is she will add more books to this collection! :)

[Andrea Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buddy who used to be called king is trying to find his lost family but before he can find them he has to help two pugs who got switched at the dog park find there owners again. This turns into an adventure all over town the two pugs finally get reunited with there owners

[Seikaiha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the whole series so far. I love this book because I came to understand this is not just a book about dogs but also about kids, school and families. I hope we can learn how to behave ourselves better with our animals and kids.

[Alysha DeShaé · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute and creative. A woman convinced that her dog has been switched with another is right! Buddy and his friend Mouse (something tells me his name was supposed to be Moose) have to somehow rescue the stolen dog and switch them back to their rightful humans.

[Susan Temairik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dori Butler writes funny dog books. She's one of my favorite authors. She speaks dog.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this series for early elementary!

[Marcus Reeves · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite of the series. Very entertaining

[Marblesaurus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dog lovers must read this. Although I'm on the cat lovers' side, I enjoyed it very much.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was good! To mutts were mixed in till buddy came to help them find their people.