The Problem with the Puddles
By Kate Feiffer, read by Halley Feiffer, published by Listening Library
About 3 hours.

The problem with the Puddles? Well, the Puddles actually have a host of problems. To begin with, Mr. and Mrs. Puddle disagree - a lot! For that reason, Baby, which is the name the exasperated hospital nurse finally wrote on the birth certificate when the Puddle parents failed to agree on any other, is called Ferdinanda by her father and Emily by her mother. Her brother, Tom, was somehow more fortunate. The Puddles' dogs, a miniature Chihuahua and a Great Dane are, (due to another disagreement) each named Sally - the Sallys or Sally squared, for short.

The Puddle parents, however, "agree to disagree" (the title, BTW, of Mrs. Puddle's bestselling book!), and disagreements are not their current problem. Sally squared is the problem. In leaving their country house for a trip to their city house, they have accidentally left the Sallys behind! While debating whether to go on or go back, the family car breaks down; in attempting to flag down a passing motorist, they are mistaken for a modern dance troupe, the Dancing Puddles. Meanwhile, the Sallys have struck out on their own for the city. A hilarious set of circumstances ensues.

The story alternates in perspective, with chapters switching between the escapades of the devoted Sallys and the dithering Puddles. The writing is funny and unique. The Puddles are unforgettable. Great in audio format, but likely even funnier in print due to the illustrations!

This book is a quirky winner for chapter book readers!

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Mr. Puddle loves living in the country and Mrs. Puddle loves living in the city. They have two children, Baby who is eight and Tom her older brother. Mr. and Mrs. Puddle had another son. He was their first born son and they had given him up at birth because they felt they were too young to have children. The Puddles waited several days for the rain to let up so they could leave. They always disagreed about everything. When the rain finally stopped they rushed around packing the car and then sped off without their dogs. They argue about whether they should continue on and call the neighbors or if they should turn around. The dogs have realized they have been left behind and start making their way toward the city. The puddles have car trouble along the way and that is where their adventure really begins. This was a funny book. At times I felt like I was reading a book that was a cross between Roald Dahl and Lemony Snicket. It is just quirky enough that I think my students will like it. I really didn’t think I was going to like it when I first picked it up. I decided it looked like an easy read so I would get it done and over with. Little did I know that it would charm its way into my heart. I can’t wait to order it and put it on my shelf ( )

Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com

Stuck in the country because the weather won't cooperate...

Baby's mother is ready to return to the city. And her father would rather stay in the country for a few more days. Growing up, Baby's parents have always agreed to disagree. In fact, her mother wrote a book called Agreeing to Disagree that became an instant success. Their disagreeing goes back to when she was born. Her parents couldn't agree what to call her. One wanted to call her Emily, the other wanted Ferdinanda. A nurse simply wrote "Baby" on her form, and that was that.

So, once the rain finally passes, the Puddles load up the car and head back to the city. A few hours into the eight-hour drive, the family realizes they've left the dogs back in the country! In a flurry of indecision, Mr. Puddles turns the car left, then right, trying to decide if they should go back for the dogs then or return at a later time. In the confusion, the car loses control and winds up off the road.

In the meantime, the dogs are left back in the country and have their own discussion on what they should do. One is a Chihuahua, the other a Great Dane. And as with the rest of the craziness of the Puddle family, both dogs are named Sally. The dogs agree to head to the city to find the Puddles.

While the Puddles are trying to return to the country, and the dogs are trying to get to the city, stories are told and secrets are revealed. One stranger stops to help the Puddles and another stranger stops to help the dogs. In a surprising twist, the author brings to two unlikely groups to a surprising end.

For anyone that likes the quirkiness of Lemony Snicket's sense of humor, THE PROBLEM WITH THE PUDDLES is along the same vein. Fun, amusing, and downright humorous, the Puddles make any family seem normal!

Readers younger than sixth grade will also be able to enjoy the story. There are entertaining illustrations throughout the story, and the chapters are kept to two or three pages for quick reading. ( )

The Puddle parents cannot seem to agree about anything, but when their dogs go missing the whole family embarks on an unlikely quest that eventually answers many unasked questions. ( )

Baby has parents who agree to disagree. That is why she has three names, Baby, Ferdinanda, and Emily. Her parents couldn't agree on what to name her so the nurse wrote "baby" on her birth certificate. Then her parents couldn't agree on what dog to get so they ended up getting two dogs, both named Sally. When a disagreement about leaving their vacation home in the country causes confusion and a rush packing job, both Sallys are left behind. Two hours into the trip, the Puddles notice that they are missing and a new disagreement begins regarding whether to go back to get the Sallys immediately or whether to call the country neighbors to go over and look after the Sallys for awhile. Then their car breaks down...This leads to a multitude of mini wild adventures for both the Puddles and their canine Sallys who decide to try to find their Puddles on their own. This book an adorable adventure for a parent and I can only imagine it would be more exciting for a child. I wanted to read and review the book first, but my 9 year old son and I are going to read it aloud to each other also. The story has some more 'grown up' themes to it as well, but they are handled in a clear, child friendly way. There were some serious laugh aloud moments. My only complaint was the 'write in' pieces because I thought they distracted from the story rather than added to it. Plus my son will want to write in the pages, and I hate that! This story is a quality and timeless one that I encourage you to read. ( )