Buddy and Earl Meet the Neighbors

by Maureen Fergus, Carey Sookocheff (Illustrator)

Overview

Wonder Buddy and Super Earl come to the rescue when their new neighbors need help! The fifth installment of a charming and critically acclaimed series.

When Wonder Buddy and Super Earl learn that the Evil Doctor Stinker is planning to shut down the only hamburger factory in town, they know they have to find the supervillain’s secret lair — fast! Hopping into the Earl-mobile, they race into the yard next door where they come face-to-face with the new neighbors.

At first, Mister the bulldog is alarmed by Wonder Buddy’s laser-beam eyes (even though Buddy does not know how to turn them on), and Snowball the cat thinks that Earl is the funniest-looking mouse she’s ever seen.

But when Snowball ends up in mortal danger, Buddy and Mister team up to save the day, and Snowball and Earl discover that they have more in common than they thought.

The dog who likes to play by the rules and the hedgehog who knows no limits make some super new friends in this fifth book in the critically acclaimed Buddy and Earl series.

Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.3
With prompting and support, identify characters, settings, and major events in a story.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.7
Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.3
Describe how characters in a story respond to major events and challenges.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781773060255
Publisher:	Groundwood Books
Publication date:	08/01/2018
Series:	Buddy and Earl Series , #5
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	7.40(w) x 8.60(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

MAUREEN FERGUS is an award-winning author of books for kids of all ages. Her novels include The Gypsy King trilogy and Ortega; her picture books include InvisiBill, The Day My Mom Came to Kindergarten, and the Buddy and Earl series. She lives in Winnipeg with her family and her dog, Buddy.

CAREY SOOKOCHEFF is the author and illustrator of Lost Things, Wet, and Solutions for Cold Feet and Other Little Problems. She is also the illustrator of the Buddy and Earl series, written by Maureen Fergus. She lives in Toronto, Ontario with her family and her dog, Rosie.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

Buddy and Earl Meet the Neighbors:

"This fun story celebrates friendship and the power of imaginative play." — School Library Journal

"The emotions, reactions, and hubris of the characters ring true to human kids' experiences." — Booklist

Buddy and Earl


“An understated winner of a friendship story. . . . simultaneously of-the-moment and timeless.” Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW

Buddy and Earl Go Exploring



“Life is good for Buddy and Earl in this aerobic exercise of the imagination.” Kirkus, STARRED REVIEW

Buddy and Earl and the Great Big Baby



“Older siblings who are intimately familiar with baby-related chaos will be in stitches …” Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW

Buddy and Earl Go to School



“The bond between Buddy and Earl is as strong as ever in their fourth book, as is the playful banter and cheerful artwork that capture their relationship so well.” Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW

Editorial Reviews

The emotions, reactions, and hubris of the characters ring true to human kids' experiences.

Booklist

06/01/2018
PreS-Gr 3—Best friends Buddy the dog and Earl the porcupine are back as "crime-fighting superheroes Wonder Buddy and Super Earl." While the pooch is ready for a nap, his prickly comrade informs him that, "Unfortunately, the good citizens of this fair city expect more from us." He then proceeds to take a call from the mayor on his invisible phone, in which he learns that "the Evil Doctor Stinker has escaped from prison" and is "planning to close down the only hamburger factory in town." The Earl-mobile, aka Mom's new gardening hat, takes them to the evil villain's secret lair, aka the new neighbor's yard, where they meet a bulldog named Mister and a nimble white cat called Snowflake. While demonstrating her own superpowers, Snowflake slips and the dynamic duo, sporting capes and masks, must come to her rescue. Despite a few setbacks, they succeed and then invite their new friends over "to play Lick the Recycling Bin sometime very soon." The illustrations, rendered in acrylic gouache on watercolor paper, capture the humorous antics of the four friends in a palette of lime green and light blue and muted gray and brown on white. Share before recess to inspire adventure and cooperation on the playground. VERDICT This fun story celebrates friendship and the power of imaginative play.—Barbara Auerbach, formerly at New York City Public Schools

School Library Journal

2018-04-16
Buddy and Earl, dog and hedgehog, do what they do best: find adventure where there is none.Fergus' protagonists have been digging for treasure in the flower garden. But that gets old pretty fast, and Buddy, as is his wont, suggests a nap. Earl is appalled. He has decided they are superheroes: Wonder Buddy and Super Earl. They must save the city when an imaginary call from the mayor alerts the heroes to a villain on the loose. Buddy is a bit nonplussed by the whole fabrication, but Earl is the brains of the operation, and he keeps things rolling. Earl trails the villain to the new neighbors' house, where they find Mister (a bulldog rather than a villain, and a bit of a rube, like Buddy) and Snowflake (not a villain but a cat, and a bit self-inflated, like Earl). There follow some classic follies—pride before the fall, dogs ripping leaf bags to shreds—which are successfully negotiated, and the new friends are invited to play Lick the Recycling Bin. At last it's time for Buddy's nap. The problem here is that the story lacks the bite of originality. Two little, fairly charming boasters get their comeuppance, but there is no way they will admit to it. Even Earl's little zingers feel well-traveled.Time for a nap. (Picture book. 4-9)

Kirkus Reviews