What do you think?
Rate this book
Peanut, Butter, and Crackers #1
Puppy Problems
A new puppy rocks the world of a high-strung dog and a snarky cat in this graphic novel for early readers.
Crackers is a rescue dog who's a bit on the nervous side, but pretty comfy at home with Butter, a very plump cat who--like all cats--is all about himself. The two pets have a good life: big backyard, nice couch, good eats, and an owner who goes to work every day so they can pretty much do what they want.
Enter Peanut, a brand-new puppy with big floppy ears, unabashed energy, and no appreciation for the quiet life. The little dog is a chowhound who dips into everybody's food bowl. He drools, he chews up stuff, he doesn't get how stairs work, and he's afraid of the dark. Yowl! Not to mention he's hogging their owner's lap. Even the squirrels in the yard are laughing at this goofy little canine.
Butter and Crackers have had it! This puppy has to go! But when the backyard gate is left open (the cat's idea, of course!) and Peanut wanders out and gets lost, the older animals remember what it was like to be alone--and lonely. Butter and Crackers to the rescue!
Crackers is a rescue dog who's a bit on the nervous side, but pretty comfy at home with Butter, a very plump cat who--like all cats--is all about himself. The two pets have a good life: big backyard, nice couch, good eats, and an owner who goes to work every day so they can pretty much do what they want.
Enter Peanut, a brand-new puppy with big floppy ears, unabashed energy, and no appreciation for the quiet life. The little dog is a chowhound who dips into everybody's food bowl. He drools, he chews up stuff, he doesn't get how stairs work, and he's afraid of the dark. Yowl! Not to mention he's hogging their owner's lap. Even the squirrels in the yard are laughing at this goofy little canine.
Butter and Crackers have had it! This puppy has to go! But when the backyard gate is left open (the cat's idea, of course!) and Peanut wanders out and gets lost, the older animals remember what it was like to be alone--and lonely. Butter and Crackers to the rescue!
96 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2020
16 people are currently reading
167 people want to read
About the author
Paige Braddock
65 books64 followersPaige Braddock is a Sparky Award winner, an Eisner-nominated artist and writer, and Creative Director Emeritus at Charles M. Schulz Creative Associates. She won a Children's & Family Emmy Award for her work on the Apple documentary, "Who Are You, Charlie Brown?" which won for outstanding nonfiction program.
Braddock has illustrated several Peanuts children’s books. Her other graphic novels for children include the series Stinky Cecil with Andrews McMeel and Peanut, Butter, & Crackers with Penguin Kids. New editions of the Peanut, Butter, & Crackers series are now available in the UK, Italy, Greece, and in Arabic by publisher Nosy Crow.
She lives with her wife Evelyn and their two dogs and a cat in Sebastopol, California.
Braddock has illustrated several Peanuts children’s books. Her other graphic novels for children include the series Stinky Cecil with Andrews McMeel and Peanut, Butter, & Crackers with Penguin Kids. New editions of the Peanut, Butter, & Crackers series are now available in the UK, Italy, Greece, and in Arabic by publisher Nosy Crow.
She lives with her wife Evelyn and their two dogs and a cat in Sebastopol, California.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
November 24, 2023
Paige Braddock's brief appearance as an assistant in the biographical graphic novel I recently read, Funny Things: A Comic Strip Biography of Charles M. Schulz, put me in a open and welcoming mood when I saw one of her book titles pop up in the library catalog. Her "Jane's World" series didn't do much for me years ago, but I was curious to see how she'd fare when it comes to a kiddie book.
And she did okay, I guess, for the book's intended audience, but this little peek into how an established dog and cat react when a puppy is introduced into their household didn't do anything for me to make it stand out in a very crowded field.
And she did okay, I guess, for the book's intended audience, but this little peek into how an established dog and cat react when a puppy is introduced into their household didn't do anything for me to make it stand out in a very crowded field.
November 2, 2020
I received a free unfinished ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This one was just...fine. If you have a kid who is an animal lover and you have pets, it's a cute read about a cat and dog who have to adjust to a new puppy living in their house. I felt a Garfield-y vibe sometimes, and the characters sure have their own distinct personalities. The layout was nice and easy to read, so it serves well as an introductory graphic novel, it's just a very generic story.
This one was just...fine. If you have a kid who is an animal lover and you have pets, it's a cute read about a cat and dog who have to adjust to a new puppy living in their house. I felt a Garfield-y vibe sometimes, and the characters sure have their own distinct personalities. The layout was nice and easy to read, so it serves well as an introductory graphic novel, it's just a very generic story.
Read
July 1, 20255 ⭐️ my 7 y/o speech client and I read this to work on his reading fluency/articulation and he loved it!! very cute and fun. he loved the artwork (and drawing the characters himself during free time) 🐶💛
October 1, 2020
I colored this so I'm a little biased!
Puppy Problems was such a fun graphic to color because I got to spend a lot of time up close with Braddock's adorable cast of critters. The story is charming and a really good entry point for kids just starting out on their reading journey. Children who are expecting new additions to their household would especially benefit from Puppy Problems because it handles issues of jealousy with surprising maturity while also keeping things simple for early readers. Lessons are learned, and the overall theme of love and family unity can be enjoyed by people of any age.
Puppy Problems was such a fun graphic to color because I got to spend a lot of time up close with Braddock's adorable cast of critters. The story is charming and a really good entry point for kids just starting out on their reading journey. Children who are expecting new additions to their household would especially benefit from Puppy Problems because it handles issues of jealousy with surprising maturity while also keeping things simple for early readers. Lessons are learned, and the overall theme of love and family unity can be enjoyed by people of any age.
April 15, 2025
راااااائع جدا!
January 6, 2021
A cute graphic novel about how life gets disrupted for a cat and a dog when their human brings home a new puppy. The illustrations and colors are beautiful, but I really wanted to like the story more. I think the resolution was a bit rushed.
Still I can see kids liking this for the cute art and story about cats and dogs.
Still I can see kids liking this for the cute art and story about cats and dogs.
March 23, 2021
A cute story of how family sticks together.
August 15, 2020
Here is a pretty delightful children’s graphic novel! Things are cleanly drawn, the text is big and well organized. Children will be able to follow the story well. It’s funny and charming - seeing how Butter and Crackers deal with the new puppy, Peanut, in their home. A story that tackles acceptance and family all while being super light-hearted. It’ll be a blast seeing where this trio ends up! A good read-alike for the Wedgie and Gizmo series or Sparks! Thanks to Viking for an ARC!
January 8, 2022
So I think that fact that I'm not a dog person definitely influenced how I felt about this book. Like The book does have a lot of energy and any kid who has adopted a puppy will certainly feel seen . So even though it wasn't my favorite, I will still end up purchasing this book for my school because I think I will have students who will love it.
February 21, 2022
Butter the cat and Crackers the dog have a comfy life with their human. And all of that is thrown into disarray when the human brings home a puppy named Peanut. What will they do?
A cute and humorous graphic novel about the chaos that is a young puppy, and two older pets who first devise ways to get rid of him and then realize they might have gotten attached. Hand this to animal lovers just beginning to dive into chapter books.
No content issues.
A cute and humorous graphic novel about the chaos that is a young puppy, and two older pets who first devise ways to get rid of him and then realize they might have gotten attached. Hand this to animal lovers just beginning to dive into chapter books.
No content issues.
August 21, 2023
This is a funny graphic novel about a family introducing a new puppy to the family… and how their dog and cat react! Lots of fun in this - made me chuckle at points! Gorgeously presented and I have another one here to tuck into!
August 21, 2020
Another cute graphic novel for early readers. This one nails what it must be like for your pets when a puppy comes into the picture.
January 13, 2023
Genre: Junior graphic novel, pets
Language: Clean
Age Range: 7+ (depending on their reading level)
My rating: 5 stars
Conclusion:
This book was adorable! It's all about friendship, and becoming a family. What happens when Crackers (the dog) and Butter (the cat) end up getting a new puppy? Well, their life gets a little chaotic and turned upside down. Crackers no longer has his favorite spot on the couch, and Butter is no longer the cute pet. But when the puppy goes missing, they have to decide - is the puppy family or not?
All in all, it was an adorable read and any pet lover will appreciate the content and art.
Language: Clean
Age Range: 7+ (depending on their reading level)
My rating: 5 stars
Conclusion:
This book was adorable! It's all about friendship, and becoming a family. What happens when Crackers (the dog) and Butter (the cat) end up getting a new puppy? Well, their life gets a little chaotic and turned upside down. Crackers no longer has his favorite spot on the couch, and Butter is no longer the cute pet. But when the puppy goes missing, they have to decide - is the puppy family or not?
All in all, it was an adorable read and any pet lover will appreciate the content and art.
Read
December 16, 2020A novel about Peanut, Butter and crackers!
An adorable puppy, peanut, introduces himself to Butter's and Crackers life. Peanut is a new puppy who loves to explore the world! (even the trash) butter seems okay with peanut but crackers feels like Peanut is needy and has replaced him. One night Peanut goes off to adventure for new things but ends up lost...away from home. Crackers realizes he has to find peanut! Peanut is somewhere and is lost. Crackers and butter sets a new goal to find Peanut!
BUTTER= CAT
CRACKERS=DOG
PEANUT=PUPPY
An adorable puppy, peanut, introduces himself to Butter's and Crackers life. Peanut is a new puppy who loves to explore the world! (even the trash) butter seems okay with peanut but crackers feels like Peanut is needy and has replaced him. One night Peanut goes off to adventure for new things but ends up lost...away from home. Crackers realizes he has to find peanut! Peanut is somewhere and is lost. Crackers and butter sets a new goal to find Peanut!
BUTTER= CAT
CRACKERS=DOG
PEANUT=PUPPY
January 22, 2021
Butter (a cat) and Crackers (a dog) are living quiet lives as house pets until Peanut the puppy shows up and turns their world upside down with typical puppy mishaps.
A great starter graphic novel for kids in grades 2-4 who are new to the genre, Puppy Problems employs adorable, colorful animal cartoons to catch and hold the reader’s attention. The characters’ facial expressions and body language convey a lot of movement and emotion, which really enhances the straightforward, conversational text. When the puppy gets lost, the elder pets realize that they do care for him in spite of his annoying ways, and go out to rescue him. The story is sweet and will be relatable to pet owners.
A great starter graphic novel for kids in grades 2-4 who are new to the genre, Puppy Problems employs adorable, colorful animal cartoons to catch and hold the reader’s attention. The characters’ facial expressions and body language convey a lot of movement and emotion, which really enhances the straightforward, conversational text. When the puppy gets lost, the elder pets realize that they do care for him in spite of his annoying ways, and go out to rescue him. The story is sweet and will be relatable to pet owners.
December 30, 2022
This was a cute book. The pictures were very pretty and vibrate. It wanted to teach a lesson about taking others in and treating each other how you would want to be treated which I think is a good lesson to learn. I think this would be a good book for a child to read if they just got out of ICRs. I found that it was a little to stereotypical of a story but I don't think a child would mind. This reminded me a lot of Garfield, so if your kid likes that I think it would like this. Recommended for ages 7-11.
March 16, 2024
5 stars because it got my 8 year old boy excited to read. He had been dragging his feet at reading time, despite that he has like a hundred age appropriate books at home to read. I saw one of this series on display at the library and it seemed like something he would like. He read it twice in a day and begged for more. I found the other two books at the library and he gobbled those up as well. Sometimes you’ve just gotta get your reluctant reader a book full of funny and cute animalness. I only wish there were more books in the series.
March 18, 2021
SO CUTE! Butter the cat, and Cracker the dog get a new sibling, Peanut the Puppy.
The illustrations are so stinkin’ cute! Narrated from the point of view of the cat and dog, who are very annoyed by their new puppy.
I love that the voice bubbles of their owner are filled with squiggle, since the animals can’t actually understand what she is saying.
Also the cat is kind of the villain, which seems true to life ;).
The illustrations are so stinkin’ cute! Narrated from the point of view of the cat and dog, who are very annoyed by their new puppy.
I love that the voice bubbles of their owner are filled with squiggle, since the animals can’t actually understand what she is saying.
Also the cat is kind of the villain, which seems true to life ;).
September 18, 2022
A super cute and real-life awkward family dynamic for best friends Crackers, the dog, and Butter, the cat when they’re humans get a new puppy named Peanut. This book would also be a great introduction to graphic novels for children that have not read them before since there is minimal text in each panel and not many panels per page. I think any child with a pet would find this funny and easy to read—perfect for first graders and a kindergartners are a bit more advanced.
May 19, 2023
Crackers the dog and Butter the cat are very happy with their lives, but it's suddenly interrupted when their human brings in Peanut, the new puppy. He pees everywhere, takes spots, steals food, and cries all night. Can they all get along? For fans of Frank and the Bad Surprise and Doggo and Pupper. With big panels and short sentences, it's also a very similar reading level to Narwhal and Jelly. Great for animal fans, especially dog fans.
January 12, 2021
This was such a cute graphic novel! Crackers and Butter have a great life. They are used to their routines and their space. Everything changes when their human gets a new puppy, Peanut. He is there to stay and explore EVERYTHING. Crackers and Butter are not happy. When Peanut gets gets lost, Crackers and Butter are there to help him come back home. They are a furever family ♥.
October 28, 2021
Catherine: It is so funny because the cat is named Butter and she licks butter off the counter when it is left out. I like that the cat likes boxes. Peanut is the puppy. I like how they always nap. They love napping. On Crackers' to do list it says, "Bark, nap, bark, pee outside, sniff things." It's also funny because they puppy doesn't really know things like what stairs are or what grass is.
February 28, 2022
Crackers (the dog) and Butter (the cat) live together harmoniously with their human until Peanut (the puppy) shows up. Full of wonder, energy, and mischief, Peanut tests their patience and one day Butter just happens to leave the gate open. As Peanut wanders out at night, the other two come to realize that they need to go out and help the little guy who must be so scared and alone.
July 9, 2023
If you’re going to have a pet heavy comic including Peanut Butter in the title it had better be worthy of Peanutbutter and Jeremy, James Kochalka’s masterpiece. And this is absolutely worthy of that comparison with that book, albeit obviously more child friendly and broader in tone. Glorious cartooning too
May 1, 2021
So cute, I loved the interaction of the characters in this story, I also feel like there was character growth and that the characters had depth to them. It was a cute, well illustrated graphic novel and I think I would likely continue this series. I would also recommend this to others.
June 2, 2021
As someone who has witnessed bringing a new puppy/kitten into a home over and over and over and over and over again, this was put it perfectly on how the currently furbabies must feel. Also, baby fever? Now, I've got puppy fever! Also, extra points for being a queer author.
July 14, 2021
I LOVE Braddock's Stinky Cecil books, so I went in to this with high expectations. I like the art and I love the cat's personality, but it's not quite as weirdly funny as the Stinky Cecil books. I'll check out the next one, though!
August 12, 2021
Great illustrations. Good intro to graphic novels. The animals all had distinct voices. I felt like the "owner" was cold. (Did we really need to see them at all???) At one point they spray the dog with a hose (for barking). Looking at this from a dog trainer perspective that was annoying.
December 31, 2021
As I dog sit a complete hooligan who is systematically ripping up a blanket right now, I can honestly say I chose this so I could hit my Goodreads Challenge. It’s cute, though. I’m a sucker for a puppy. Way too young for my campuses, but adorable nonetheless.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews