The McNifficents

by Amy Makechnie

A senior Miniature Schnauzer employed as a very distinguished nanny has his paws full trying to prove he’s still the dog for the job in this sweet and “chaotically entertaining” ( Kirkus Reviews ) middle grade novel that’s The Secret Life of Pets meets The Vanderbeekers series.

Every day, Lord Tennyson the Miniature Schnauzer does his very best to care for the six McNiff children and keep them from destroying their pink New England farmhouse—and the rest of the town for that matter. But when summer vacation brings the kids home together all day, his chaos-containing skills are put to the ultimate test.

Baby Sweetums is still refusing to walk, nap, or listen to anyone; Ezra is trying to keep a snake as a secret pet; Annie and Mary’s fighting is worse than ever; and Pearl and Tate are scared of just about everything. And when a particularly tempting troop of baby chicks arrives at the house, even Lord Tennyson finds he can’t stay on his best behavior.

As the chaos begin to spiral out of hand, though, something truly awful Mr. and Mrs. McNiff seem to be considering getting “a real nanny” to care for their big brood! Can Lord Tennyson get the McNiffs’ hijinks under control and teach them to behave before the summer’s out? Or will this most unusual nanny find himself out of a job and back in the doghouse?

Genres: Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Childrens, Fiction, Animals, Juvenile, Dogs

336 pages, Paperback

First published June 20, 2023

About the author

AMY MAKECHNIE is the author of the middle grade novels, THE UNFORGETTABLE GUINEVERE ST CLAIR, TEN THOUSAND TRIES, and THE MCNIFFICENTS.

Like Guinevere St. Clair, Amy once set sail for the Mississippi on a large piece of Styrofoam (she didn't make it.) Like Golden from TEN THOUSAND TRIES, she's a little obsessed with soccer. And those funny children in THE MCNIFFICENTS? Well, she has a few - plus a miniature schnauzer that's really named Lord Tennyson (just like in the book).


Amy lives with her family in in a small New Hampshire town, and when she's not dissecting body parts with her A&P students, you might see her out running; that's where she works out her best plot points.

Subscribe to the newsletter, where she talks about happy things like books! https://amymakechnie.substack.com

https://www.instagram.com/amymakechnie/

https://twitter.com/amymakechnie

Reviews

[Debra Slonek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine a proper gentleman, who just so happens to be employed as a nanny. Being a nanny to six mischievous children is quite the challenge.

Now, imagine a dog with amazing self-control and a long list of responsibilities.

Allow me to introduce you to Lord Tennyson, a miniature schnauzer who is also….the nanny. Let the fun begin!

While on duty, Lord Tennyson found himself wearing many hats…mischief manager, mediator, teacher, coach, counselor, protector and rescuer.

While living in a pink farmhouse and under the watchful eye of Lord Tennyson, the McNiffs learned many important life lessons. This book will warm your heart and cause you to giggle. It will also remind you to hug the kids and dogs in your life.

This is such a delightful book!

I received a complimentary copy of this enjoyable book from a giveaway hosted by Virginia Macgregor on Instagram. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

[Hazel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super Funny!

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh, I like this sort of book but this one didn’t land well with me. The kids were kinda mean, the dog was worrisomely old, the parents unpleasantly incompetent and the final bit with the coyotes implausible. Everything up to then (well, except for the parents) had been realistic, so that didn’t really work, and so it failed as the ramp up into the emotional climax, leaving that also a bit limp.

[Robyn Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute story! I think this is aimed at younger kids than Amy’s first two books, but just as fun!

[Kelly Farnsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been a huge fan of Amy Makechnie and I enjoyed reading The Mcnifficents as well. It reminded me of my family and all 6 of us brothers growing up. It was a busy and sometimes complicated household and we made it. I hope that you have the opportunity to read Amy’a newest release and enjoy it as well. I’m looking forward to more from her. :)

[Mary Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read nightly with my 7 year old daughter and she loved it.

[Sirah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lord Tennyson is a schnauzer with an important job: to make sure the six McNiff children grow up respectable and kind and all the things they should be. It's a difficult task, but Tenny won't give up. He persists through tattling, snooping, sneaking, fighting, chore avoidance, and babysitters, and although he considers at times that he could relax and just be a dog, he knows that his children need him.

This book nearly got away with not making me cry, which is not something I expected from an Amy Makechnie book, but it's a dog book, and although it all ended well, no one who has loved a dog could walk away from this one without at least a little heart lurch. In many ways, this story is full of vivid and realistic moments, and as someone who has cared for children, I felt a lot of Tenny's helplessness as he tries to get the young ones to do the right thing only to watch them do the absolute wrong thing. It's rather episodic, and I admit to not absolutely loving every episode nor even every character. Yet maybe that's the point; family isn't just about loving each other when it's comfortable and easy. You'll notice I didn't give it five stars, and honestly that's because I found it hard to get into at first: there are a lot of characters and a lot of episodes that don't get into anything really significant, and it's a touch redundant. But I still enjoyed this book, and I'm excited to be getting a hard copy when it comes out in a few weeks.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Cecily · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 11-year-old's review of The McNifficents.

The Mcifficents is a book about a family who live in a pink farmhouse and have a dog, Lord Tennyson. Lord Tennyson is the nanny of the six McNiff children.This summer he has to help stop the unruly behaviors and rivalries and create helpful obedient clean children.

The part I liked best was the part when Lord Tennyson finds Pearl with coyotes, and the coyotes Alpha female sees that Pearl is kind and takes her in and protects her from what she thinks is danger. Another part I liked was the part with the snake and the part with the love poem that was hilarious.

The part that confused me was how Fat cat knew that Pearl was missing.

The ages I would recommend this awesome book to would be seven to fifteen and people who like animals. I think that girls would like this book more than boys because there are more girls than boys in the book, but I'm a boy and I still liked this book so I'm going to share it with my cousins when I visit them this summer.

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute story about a family and their dog, who considers himself the children's nanny. The tone of it reminded me of Mr. Whiskers and the Shenanigan Sisters, probably because they both feature sentient dogs. The illustrations are delightful, though I wish there were more sprinkled throughout.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mean this book is absolutely not realistic for so many reasons, particularly the coyote situation later in the book, but it’s lots of fun. I found myself smiling throughout its pages. :-)

I do feel that those who have read this author’s other middle grade books will find this one to be for a younger crowd, but it’s very charming nonetheless.

[Stephanie Affinito · Rating 5 out of 5]

The McNifficents by Amy Makechnie is a delightful read. This middle grade novel tells the story of six rambunctious children and their nanny, who happens to be a very dignified Miniature Schnauzer. It’s fun, funny and filled with quirky family members that will make you smile…along with chickens, riding bikes, stolen diary keys and graffiti walls. Get ready to laugh with this one.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 9-year-old loved reading it! Her review: I liked how the dog pretends to be the nanny. There’s lots of suspense scattered everywhere and it described their surroundings a lot. I really liked Sweetums and how she threw sand in Ms Snoot’s mouth. I would definitely recommend it to others.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lord Tennyson shares an episode from his life with the six McNiff children during one summer. Lord Tennyson has taken it upon himself to be a nanny to the children and teach them how to behave themselves. It won't be easy because Lord Tennyson is a miniature schnauzer.

[J. Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for the middlegrade kids in my bookclub and I really enjoyed it. It’s sweet and funny, and appropriate for all ages, it would be a really fun read aloud.
If you enjoyed The Penderwicks or The Vanderbeekers, then may I introduce you to the McNifficents:)

[Lex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful, spunky, and sweet!

[Elizabeth Kraus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Completely perfect, hilarious and heart-warming. The world needs more books just like this!

[Sydney · Rating 5 out of 5]

For fans of the Penderwicks, Vanderbeekers, All-of-a-Kind Family, etc.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

First sentence: IN A LARGE PINK FARMHOUSE at 238 Marigold Lane lives a most unusual nanny: Lord Tennyson, a short, middle-aged gentleman with white whiskers and a royal pedigree. If he could speak, it would be with dignity and a touch of an English accent. If he wore clothing, he imagines he’d wear a suit of gray silk and a striped bow tie. But he does neither because Lord Tennyson is a dog, a miniature schnauzer to be exact, who wears only a blue-and-green collar that has teeth marks in it from when Sweetums was going through a particularly bad biting phase.
Despite his distinguished appearance and pedigree, he was not spending his morning caring for a dignitary’s son or the daughter of the president. Rather, his duty was herding the unruly McNiff children from the old pink farmhouse into the old red farm truck for the first swim of summer vacation. There were six of them: two boys and four girls. As you can imagine, getting all of them to and from the lake was not an easy task.

My thoughts (preview): I fell in love with the book cover. I did. It looked like it would be an awesome book that I would just click with from the start. The premise also sounds awesome: a DOG as a nanny; six naughty children having adventures/misadventures for hundreds of pages. I was disappointed. There is a good possibility it is all on me. I think the timing was off. I tried so many times to read this one and get hooked, get invested. I kept waiting for it to come naturally. For me to be able to read smoothly, naturally, to fall in love with the characters and story. Never happened....for me.

Premise/plot: A SENIOR miniature Schnauzer is a "nanny" for six horribly, naughty children. The McNiffs need Lord Tennyson (the dog) to help teach them how to be loving, caring, decent human beings. They need a lot of help because they are so not there yet. The children couldn't get along if their lives depended on it. There is fussing, fighting, arguing, grudges, revenge, sneakiness. The parents are mostly absent. The dog is the narrator.

My thoughts (conclusion): I really HATED the melodrama of the next-to-last chapter. I realize that he is a senior dog. I realize that dogs die. But to have this melodramatic death scene (turns out to be near-death not actual death), was just CRUEL. I think this nearly losing Lord Tennyson is the climax of their behavior. This is the first glimpse of hope that the kids can unite for something--or someone. But still.

I *wanted* more than just naughty children. Personally. I do think it was just bad timing on my part. Maybe if I'd read it a few months from now or a year or two from now, it would be the right time and place for me to love this one.

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big family heart and chaos are left to be conquered by a highly sophisticated dog, who might love his family more than anyone knows.

Lord Tennyson is a miniature schnauzer...not a young one...and realizes it's his duty to care for the six McNiff children and teach them to be caring, well-mannered, and all-around good humans. But his job isn't easy. Mr. and Mrs. McNiff are a little off in their own worlds and don't always take tight rein of the children like they should. Luckily, Lord Tennyson is up for the job. And what a job it is!

There's never a quiet or calm moment as a keen, honorable, and maybe-not-as-lofty-as-he-claims dog attempts to steer six problem children like a nanny. The tale is told from his perspective as he does his best to keep each one out of trouble, guide their behaviors, and show them how to get along. Sometimes, it works. Sometimes, it doesn't. But each moment brings humor or familiar issues which hit home and come across naturally.

The tale propels from one situation to the next and is driven by the children's naughty antics...and they can be mean. While they have distinct personalities, it does take awhile to get grasp on each one. I missed a bit more individual connection in the beginning, but it comes as the story goes on. It's Lord Tennyson who stays at the center of the story, anyway, as he tries to manage everything as best he can, and these kids need all the help they can get. They are always up to something in various ways. The parents are often absent (not only physically but mentally distracted), which adds a different tone but works. Since it's Lord Tennyson, who drives the arc, the plot plays nicely, and messages surrounding forgiveness and understanding come across loud and clear.

Especially the lower end of the middle grade audience will enjoy this read. Although it weighs in with around 340 pages, the larger font and spacing allow for easier reading. There are lovely illustrations scattered throughout the read to add to the atmosphere. While there are important messages and character arcs, the plot moves along quickly and offers a somewhat lighter depth. This might leave the older end of the age group wishing for a bit more.

It's an entertaining read, which highlights sibling antics and packs more than a little humor. Plus, Lord Tennyson is a super sweet dog to root for the entire way through.

[Julia Tomiak · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author captures the chaos of a large family with humor and insight. She created eight main characters for this middle grade contemporary, and each one shines with his or her own personality. Tenny steals the show in The McNifficents, which is saying something in this large cast of characters. He’s got class and a big heart and a strong desire to eat birds. The juxtaposition of him wishing for a tuxedo while fighting his urge to maul a chicken is just one of the many ways Makechnie captures humor and tension in this delightful story.

Family can be complicated. Sometimes personalities clash, and living in harmony feels impossible. But with the right mindset, and some nudging from a wise old dog, even the rowdiest kids can pull together to get a job done. And that’s just what the McNifficents do, led by the fearless Lord Tennyson. Along the way, they learn a lot about forgiveness, grace, and the overwhelming power of canine instincts. Kid powered hi jinks and even a threatening pack of wolves keep the story rolling to the closing pages.

I also parent a flock of children and own a small dog with peculiar tendencies, Amy’s story nails the complications and joys of living in a large family and often had me laughing out loud. I highly recommend this book for middle grade readers of any age. It would make great read aloud book for family quiet time after a day at the pool or the beach.

[Our Weekend Is Booked · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.7 ***

In The McNifficents, Amy Makechnie tells the story of a large, chaotic, lovable family from the perspective of their Miniature Schnauzer Lord Tennyson. There are seven McNiff siblings, ranging in age from a crawling baby to a teen with a crush. The story starts in summer and Lord Tennyson has his paws filled as he tries to maintain order with his large brood of children and their many mishaps. It is a charming tale full of laugh-out-loud humor, heartwarming sibling dynamics, and tender moments.

What I Liked: The McNiff family members all have unique personalities. Whether it's Pearl wanting to be brave or Annie being the bossy big sister, every sibling has a different voice. My favorite character in the book was Mary, who got into all sorts of mischief that added to the drama.

An unexpected delight was having a dog narrate the book. The fact that Lord Tennyson takes his job as a self-proclaimed Nanny to the McNiff children very seriously just makes him all the more lovable.

What Left Me Wanting More: In this story, the parents seem very hands-off and focused on themselves. As an adult, I find the parents incompetent, but as a young reader, I can see why they might be amusing.

The McNifficents is a charming read for young readers who want to read about a dog's antics with a hilarious family.

This review first appeared on YA Book Central and can be found here https://www.yabookscentral.com/the-mc...

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I come from a family of six children and reading this book was almost like reading my childhood! We didn't have a miniature schnauzer, but the dynamic between the siblings in this book is pretty familiar. I loved how some of the siblings actually ask each other for forgiveness, how they pray when they are afraid and how the family goes to church. The siblings get into trouble often, especially Mary, but there are consequences that feel very real to life. It is such a wholesome story!

That being said, there are a few considerations. The two oldest girls share a room and fight often. The oldest, Annie announces to the whole local grocery store that her sister, Mary wets the bed still. This is the catalyst for a sister feud that lasts through most of the book. They only sort of make up halfway through the book (forgiveness is not asked specifically for this incident), but they recognize they are sisters and that they love each other. The parents are charming but are often absent (or absent minded) and discipline is not frequent.

I'm suggesting this as a read aloud because these considerations would make a perfect time to have discussions about being kind and the importance of forgiveness. Please enjoy and let me know your thoughts!

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun story of a larger than usual family with an aging schnauzer as a nanny! But somehow Lord Tennyson has always kept the 6 kids safe and even managed to teach them a few things. This summer may be a tougher test, though, and mom and dad are wondering if a more traditional nanny might be needed. The two older girls just can’t seem to get along and one announces an embarrassing secret to everyone so the other is set for paybacks. The eldest boy has decided to kept a snake hidden in his room as a pet. The closer than close almost youngest boy and girl are trying to figure out how to do things independently and the baby? Well, she’s determined to make a mess of everything! Readers in grades 4-6 will chuckle or laugh out loud at the antics of the unorthodox McNiff brood and are likely to see habits and characteristics of their own family. Plenty of “nanny” stories out there, but this one is unique and just because there is a canine taking care of the kiddos. Text is free of profanity, violence and sexual content.

Thanks for the print arc, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summer vacation has arrived, and miniature schnauzer Lord Tennyson has a very important job to do as “nanny” for the McNiff family. The six McNiff children reside in a pink farmhouse with a menagerie of animals and a pair of often absent parents. Tenny takes on the job of helping to keep the children safe and teaching them to be kind, caring, and respectful to each other and their community. With all six McNiff children home, Tenny finds himself caught in the middle of many of the children’s adventures—or misadventures—as he tries to guide them to do the right thing.

With Tenny as the narrator, this book features a fun twist on the chaotic adventures of a large family. Readers will relate to the relationships between the siblings and their conflicts and will enjoy seeing how Tenny responds to his human charges in a variety of situations. Adorable art, an engaging cast of characters (people and animals alike), plus lots of action will make The McNifficents a hit with middle grade readers who love books about family dynamics.

[Scott Allenby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Certain authors have a unique ability to create characters who are so relatable, so real, so "just like your family and your neighbors" that you find yourself immersed in the story as you read aloud to your children. Amy Makechnie does just that with The McNifficients. You quickly find yourself wondering what whacky adventure will come next for the McNiff children, and having the story told through the eyes of a miniature Schnauzer makes it even more fun. My daughter and I laughed and cried and felt deeply the realness of the intrafamily dynamics of both the parents and the children so beautifully told in the McNifficients. Well done!

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amy once again does a wonderful job with creating characters that are loveable and silly but so real at the same time. The way that Lord Tennyson is written had me actually giggling and laughing as I read along. The artwork in between the pages brings such life to the book as well. I highly recommend this middle grade book to any child or parent looking for a laugh that explores big family dynamics and more.

[Kristin R · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a light and funny middle grade book about a family with six kids and parents that are a little distracted. Luckily, Lord Tennyson, their Schnauzer, is a great caretaker and takes his role very seriously. He tries his best to raise the kids and teach them to be responsible. He tries hard, but sometimes it is not enough. A lot of animals and escapades by all in this fun book.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been working on putting together a list of book recommendations that feature families with lots of siblings and this will be a great addition. Definitely a book I will recommend, although it's for a slightly younger audience (3rd-5th) than the other Makechnie book I read (still great, but just slightly different audiences)

[Brittany Ribeiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Won this on goodreads giveaways. Just love this book , a very wholesome book for children to read . Has a wonderful lessons on love family, and your furry friends . On how they are family too . I highly recommend this book

[LS Johnson]

DNF. I know it’s only due to my personal preference in reading materials. But the “carnivalesque” themed books just don’t appeal to me. If you know readers who like that, this might be a book they enjoy.