Isabel is a kid with a lot o energy. She runs fast, and she runs hard, and sometimes she makes decisions without really thinking them through. Some of those decisions happen when she’s playing with her best friend Zoe. And some of those decisions get them both in trouble, like when they got sent to the principal’s office when Izzy took things a little too far at recess.
Zoe doesn’t like to get in trouble. Izzy is one of her best friends, and when she gets Zoe in trouble, Zoe needs to take a break from her and spend time with her other best friends. But Izzy doesn’t have any other best friends. It’s only Zoe. So when Zoe is mad at her, she is sad.
What makes it even worse is that Izzy’s mom is out of town. She has to travel for her job sometimes, and Izzy’s nanny Rosa takes care of her. Rosa does a good job, and Izzy loves her, but it’s not the same as when her mom is home. Because her mom adopted Izzy, she picked her specifically, and Izzy loves to hear that story.
But then her mom does come home, and she decides that Izzy needs a new friend, so they go to adopt a puppy. Izzy is super-excited, not just about the puppy, who she adores, but also because it gives Zoe a good reason to become her best friend again.
Izzy in the Doghouse is an adorable early chapter book for kids in grades 1-4 (although I’d say it’s better for advanced K-2 readers who can handle a chapter book; I think fourth graders might find Izzy a little immature for them). Author Caroline Adderson has written this as a spin-off from her Jasper John Dooley series, and illustrator Kelly Collier adds lots of fun drawings throughout.
I really loved this book. I think I was overly excited about some things at that age (maybe always asking everyone to play board games or card games with me!), so I get her enthusiasm. And I understand that pain of rejection. So this one resonated with me, and I think it would be a good choice for advanced readers around ages 5-7.
Egalleys for Izzy in the Doghouse were provided by Kids Can Press through Edelweiss, with many thanks.
