Puggleton Park

Puggleton Park #1

by Deanna Kizis, Hannah Peck (Illustrator)

Meet Penelope the pug in the first book of this delightful series set in Regency-era London!

Penelope is a pleasant little pug who has quite the All she can remember is that she lost her Lady in the park while chasing the most dreadful squirrel. Now she dreams of one day finding a new Lady and a permanent place to stay. So when she finds herself taken in by the kind Lady Diggleton, she can't believe her luck!

But Penelope soon discovers that Lady Diggleton is searching for her previous owner and worries she will have to leave the Lady she's come to love. To make matters worse, that dreadful squirrel keeps poking its nose in wherever Penelope happens to be. However shall she keep herself from chasing it again and ruining all hopes of tea parties, elegant balls, and a forever home? 

Perfect for readers of the Diary of a Pug series and future fans of Bridgerton and Jane Austen, the adorably illustrated pages of Puggleton Park are sure to charm chapter book readers.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Chapter Books, Middle Grade, Animals, Childrens, 2nd Grade, Fiction

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2024

About the author

Deanna Kizis is an author and journalist who could not put books down as a kid. She read them in the car, on vacation -- she even read them in the bath!

Now Deanna writes her own children's books, including PUGGLETON PARK, books 1 and 2 (ages 6 to 10), and a very silly picture book called PLEASE DON'T READ THIS BOOK!

She's a mom to a little girl who is also book obsessed, along with a cat, a dog, and a fish known as "Famous Fish" because he once slid down the drain while Deanna was cleaning his tank and she got him out and gave him mouth to gill resuscitation! (True story! It was gross!) Her favorite things include having a dance party, taking long naps, giving presents and eating chocolate. And reading, of course. Oh, and saving fish. Kind of.

Reviews

[Izzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The pleasure of reading a children's book is simply something that cannot be replicated.
The joy this book brought into my heart is unmeasurable!
Penelope is the cutest pug ever. And really, I wish I was as resourceful as her.
Lady Diggleton is a peach and I love her.
I really do love children's books a lot.
I will never be happier than right now, working at this bookstore, reading children's books because there is nothing else to do.
I have reached my peak.
Thank you.

[QNPoohBear · Rating 3 out of 5]

Penelope is a pampered Pug living in London with her Lady. After a pleasant day of playing in Puggleton Park, Penelope is ready to go home but then she spies a most dreadful squirrel stealing a tart from her Lady's picnic. Well, Penelope can't let that squirrel go unpunished now can she? She chases that dreadful squirrel all through Puggleton Park until she's completely lost! As night descends, Penelope is a little afraid but surely her Lady will come find her tomorrow. Tomorrow passes and then another until Penelope find a new Lady, Lady Diggleston, to bring her home. However, Penelope makes mistakes and Lady Diggleston's dearest friend, Lady Picklebottom, believes dogs belong on farms. Penelope barely remembers her original Lady and is growing fond of Lady Diggleston but the young widow is confused and doesn't know what to do. Will Penelope ever find a new furever home?

In spite of the parody of the opening line of Pride and Prejudice, this world is more Bridgerton than Austen. It appears to be set in a faux Regency/Victorian era. (Historical errors abound if this is supposed to be Regency). The entire story is told from Penelope's point-of-view, endearing her to the reader and getting the message of rescue across. I like the rescue story a lot. It's different from the usual abused and neglected rescue animal story and shows kids how easily our beloved companions can get lost and how they need loving homes. The illustrations are humorous and each woman's gown shows off her character traits so pay attention to words and pictures.

Penelope is a dear little Pug. Like all Pugs, she just wants to be loved and be a loving companion. She was protecting her Lady's food by chasing that dreadful squirrel! Sometimes she forgets her manners and undergoes a silly training regime. It works - to a certain extent. Her trainer is a pompous fool but he does have a point. In this world, dogs can be invited to tea and to balls so they certainly need some manners but we shouldn't forget they're animals and will act like animals and should act like animals. They just need to know when/where to exhibit appropriate behavior. In the park Penelope can run free, chase balls and squirrels and at home she can jump on her Lady's lap and give kisses. With strangers, in public, she needs to mind her manners. I think even though the trainer is silly, this plot is a good way of reminding the reader in a non-didactic way not to let your dog jump and slobber all over everyone.

Lady Diggleston is a sweetheart. A young window mourning her husband, she's confused and doesn't know what to do. Does she need peace and solitude to mourn or does she need a loving, loyal companion? She seeks answers from every source she can get but ultimately makes the decision herself. Her best friend, Lady Picklebottom, is aptly named. If we're going with Pride and Prejudice as the model, Lady Picklebottom is Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Lady Picklebottom (don't you just love that name?) is not a good friend. She doesn't consider what Lady Diggleston wants and needs. Lady Picklebottom knows best and is determined to make sure Lady Diggleston listens to her. Lady Picklebottom truly believes she's right and her heart is in the right place but she's not very observant or she would see Penelope and Lady Diggleston need each other.

This cute little book is perfect for young dog lovers and adults who enjoy Bridgerton or the faux Jane Austen trash they put on TV/Netflix these days. When my nieces were little they may have enjoyed the plot of this tale.

[Alexandria Rogo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gift from my mom - so cute! Great for kids and I love the illustrations.

[Robin Pelletier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Need a Bridgerton fix after season 3? Read this one to any little you know! Penelope the pug finds herself alone in the park after chasing the Dreadful Squirrel. She is resilient though and finds food, water and shelter. She actively searches for her lady, but never finds her. She does manage to return a jacket she found in the park to the correct lady…. And finds someone in that lady who will help her find her lady. Trying to find her former lady proves to be harder than anticipated. Meanwhile, Penelope and her hero start to fall in love with each other… and kinda dread finding her rightful owner.

The illustrations in this one are absolutely delightful.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved these cute, Jane Austenesque early chapter book. I can’t wait to booktalk it!

[Meg]

"It is a truth everyone knows that all dogs need a forever home"

[Tim Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chipmunks in Mayfair? I don't think so.

[Julie Lauscher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute, simple, engaging story. Who doesn’t love a pug 🤭

[Elizabeth]

Literally the cutest little book ever! This was a book about a pug who loses her Lady in Regency-era England and has to find her again- so very charming!

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute book for dog lovers and early readers. The story is about a Pug during the regency era that gets lost in a park. He is eventually rescued by a lady who tries to find the Pugs owner. It's adventurous and fun. However both the Pug and the rescuer start to form a bond. They both struggle with knowing they will have to be apart once the original owner is found.
Spoiler: they end up finding the original owner. She left a letter saying that she had to go take care of a sick family member who was allergic to dogs and she hoped that a new owner would take the Pug in. I only mention this spoiler because I know that many people might read this as abandonment. So just a heads up.
I received this book from the publisher, all opinions are my own. I was not obligated to leave a review.

[Claire Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

“‘Do you not believe that it’s natural for things to change, Penelope?’ Moon said. ‘After all, I change all the time.’”

Have you ever lost a pet? This middle-grade book explores this from Penelope the Pug’s perspective, a pug in Elizabethan London who chases a squirrel and ends up in the house of a kind stranger. As they both grow closer to each other, will Penelope find her owner, or does she even want to?

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay this was adorable! I loved all the little references to Pride & Prejudice, Bridgerton, etc. Really cute setting, such a nice story about finding your person & place in the world, too. My 4 year old was sooo into this, too, and it was a really nice break from mermaids & fairies. :)

[Che Lozano · Rating 5 out of 5]

For pug lovers

My daughter of 6 loved this book as I read aloud to her nightly. You see, it was our first chapter book with few pictures but it will not be out last. We recommend you read it too.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable! Penelope the Pug gets lost in Regency London. While looking for her Lady, she becomes attached to her foster mother, Lady Diggleton. Adult readers will recognize references to Jane Austen novels. A delightful choice if you’re looking to introduce children ages 6 to 9 to the Regency era.

[Adelyn Belsterling · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful early read-along! It took forever to read this to my 3.5-year-old because we had to keep rereading her favorite chapters with that oh-so dreadful squirrel. The story and illustrations are charming and I enjoyed all the regency vibes!

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sweet story about a missing pug in London’s high society warmed my heart! I think kids who are animal lovers will adore this funny, touching book as much as I did.

[Maryjo · Rating 5 out of 5]

DELIGHTFUL!

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A shirt, sweet book for kids growing out of early readers.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

An incredibly cute read! 💛

[Engel Dreizehn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it was super cute and has the witty regency era tone in the writing.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable! ❤️

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a lovely little chapter book! It reads like a regency novel for kids and it’s adorable.

Found in Early Chapter Booklist Vol. 1

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 4 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

When Penelope the Pug is out in the park for a lovely picnic with her owner, she is dismayed when a sassy squirrel steals a raspberry park. She chases after the thief, but soon is lost. Night falls, and she has to sleep under a bench. Weeks pass, and her owner doesn't find her. She manages to find food from other picnickers, and finds a green velvet coat to use as a bed. When the owner of the coat, Lady Diggleton, sees the coat, her friend, Lady Picklebottom, tells her to leave it, as it is dirty. Instead, Lady Diggleton takes Penelope home, where she has her maid, Abby, give the dog a bath and get settled. Lady Diggleton's husband has passed away, and she is lonely, so she takes Penelope with her everywhere. After a disastrous tea at Lady Picklebottom's (involving another evil squirrel, as well as a smashed tea pot), training seems like a good idea, and Mr. Weebly comes to help the dog understand the Weebly Way of Sit and Stay. Penelope excels at behaving nicely, and even goes to a ball. When someone thinks they recognize Penelope and have news of the owner, Lady Diggleton is sad, because she has come to care for Penelope. Luckily, Penelope's owner has had a change of circumstances, so the two new friends get to stay together.

This was a highly illustrated early chapter book that was absolutely adorable. I would have LOVED this when I was in early elementary school, even though I wouldn't have been quite sure what Regency Era London was. A fun romp for dog lovers, somewhat similar to Willems' Diva and Flea.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

"It is a truth everyone knows that all dogs need a forever home, and for Penelope the pug, this was no different."

Sooo darling! Austenesque + Dogs!? *squeee* Granted, that combination could have gone horribly awry but fortunately the writing is quite good and it's charming rather than cringe-worthy. The illustrations are a pleasing addition, deftly conveying the Regency era but with just the right touch of humor and whimsy necessary when some our protagonists are animals.

I think the right young reader will absolutely adore this book, though it may have a bit of trouble finding broad appeal. The more sophisticated writing style and heavier themes are a bit dissonant with the early chapter book format complete with numerous illustrations. All of our human characters are adults and may be hard for some children to relate to, especially the thread with Lady Diggleton's grieving over her husband's death. It's not overall a somber story, and there's a lot of humor with Dreadful Squirrel and Mr. Weeby (pretty much Mr. Collins as dog trainer!) I think there's enough sadness and worry present (mourning, lost dog, etc.) that some sensitive readers may not find it as light as many of these early chapter books tend to be. I tried this with my eight-year-old animal lover and he didn't want to read more than a few chapters. That said, I liked it enough to continue reading it myself and I'm glad I did. It was very sweet and I plan to read the sequel--totally my cup of tea!

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Penelope the Pug chases the most dreadful squirrel in the park, and gets separated from her most special human. She is unaccustomed to fending for herself, but gets by until she is saved by Lady Diggleton, who is herself very lonely and forlorn due to her husband’s untimely death. She tries to help find Penelope’s owner, but before that happens, and it eventually does, the pup and Lady become very attached. Penelope exhibits great resilience, openness and patience as she learns how to behave and get along in her new home. Penelope’s narrative is sprinkled with humor and playfulness. Young dog lovers will enjoy this lighthearted beginning chapter book with a satisfying ending. The illustrations add to the appeal, especially those of cute and chubby Penelope. Readers will welcome the continuing adventures of this lovable pup.

Recommended for ages 6-9 by the SEPA Book Reviewers

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Puggleton Park by Deanna Kizis, illustrated by Hannah Peck. CHAPTER BOOK. Penguin, 2024. $7 (pb). 9780593661246
Content: G
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
Penelope the pug just had to chase the squirrel but after the squirrel escapes, she realizes she has lost her Lady. After a few days of living in the Park and looking for her, he is taken in by a lovely new Lady who is determined to help Penelope find her mistress, even though the new LAdy’s best friend thinks Penelope should be sent out of the city to a farm.
If your young readers are dog crazy, they might enjoy this. It is sent in the London of high society parties filled with Lords and Ladies - out of touch for today’s readers.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

[Jester, King's Favorite Fool · Rating 5 out of 5]

Penelope the pug loses her owner in the park. After a while, she finds a new owner named Lady Diggleton.

I read a lot of books with animals, not so much about dogs, as I'm not a huge fan. Even so of pugs because of the ethical reasons for breeding them, but the cover of the book was too nice for me to resist.

Penelope is cute. She sort of reminds me of a cat. I enjoy the ending parts where she gets trained to behave well. The story is a historical fiction. I like the way the author describes the setting of the story. It was as if I could see the scenes.

Note: Using new rating system starting 2025.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I checked this book out from the library because it had a pug on the cover. I read it aloud to my 4 year old. It took us a long time to get through. It was a fine book with a typical cast of endearing and uptight characters that we respectfully loved and despised. I would recommend this for an older kid because the graphics were a bit too infrequent to maintain her interest, though she did enjoy the black and white illustrations.

[Kara Felegian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very cute! I am trying to find a one book one school pick for a 3-5 intermediate school with developing readers and EL students. Although personally I liked it and will add it to the library, I don’t think it will be the pick. The English language will throw some students and I think the girls will like it more than the boys.

[Rach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my stars this book is adorable! I love being able to share the world of Jane Austen with my 7 year old in a very gentle, kid appropriate way! Both of us loved it! Crossing my fingers that the author writes more in this series!