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DJ Funkyfoot #1
Butler for Hire! (DJ Funkyfoot #1)
A wacky spin-off chapter book series in the world of the Flytrap Files, from New York Times bestselling author Tom Angleberger
You’d think from his name that DJ Funkyfoot was a rad hip-hop star, but that’s just the name his parents gave him. DJ Funkyfoot is actually a dog who’s always dreamed of being a butler! He’s the butler-iest butler to have ever buttled, but finding a butler gig is hard these days! So DJ Funkyfoot takes on a job that’s almost like being a butler . . . He becomes a nanny for a baby—and not just any baby: ShrubBaby, an adorable baby shrub. ShrubBaby may seem cute and cuddly, but she’s got a taste for chaos, thrills, fertilizer, and fame! While a nanny might say “no” to this baby’s whims, a good butler says “yes.” So DJ Funkyfoot says “yes” to every single thing ShrubBaby wants to do. When adventure calls, ShrubBaby says, “Let’s go!” and DJ Funkyfoot says, “Very good, m’lady, I’ll fetch your stroller.” The books will take place in the same world as Inspector Flytrap and Didi Dodo, Future Spy, but do not require knowledge of the world.
Read all the hilarious chapter books set in the Flytrap Files universe!
Inspector Flytrap (#1)
Inspector Flytrap in The President’s Mane Is Missing (#2)
Inspector Flytrap in The Goat Who Chewed Too Much (#3)
Didi Dodo, Future Spy: Recipe for Disaster (#1)
Didi Dodo, Future Spy: Robo-Dodo Rumble (#2)
Didi Dodo, Future Spy: Double-O Dodo (#3)
DJ Funkyfoot: Butler for Hire! (#1)
You’d think from his name that DJ Funkyfoot was a rad hip-hop star, but that’s just the name his parents gave him. DJ Funkyfoot is actually a dog who’s always dreamed of being a butler! He’s the butler-iest butler to have ever buttled, but finding a butler gig is hard these days! So DJ Funkyfoot takes on a job that’s almost like being a butler . . . He becomes a nanny for a baby—and not just any baby: ShrubBaby, an adorable baby shrub. ShrubBaby may seem cute and cuddly, but she’s got a taste for chaos, thrills, fertilizer, and fame! While a nanny might say “no” to this baby’s whims, a good butler says “yes.” So DJ Funkyfoot says “yes” to every single thing ShrubBaby wants to do. When adventure calls, ShrubBaby says, “Let’s go!” and DJ Funkyfoot says, “Very good, m’lady, I’ll fetch your stroller.” The books will take place in the same world as Inspector Flytrap and Didi Dodo, Future Spy, but do not require knowledge of the world.
Read all the hilarious chapter books set in the Flytrap Files universe!
Inspector Flytrap (#1)
Inspector Flytrap in The President’s Mane Is Missing (#2)
Inspector Flytrap in The Goat Who Chewed Too Much (#3)
Didi Dodo, Future Spy: Recipe for Disaster (#1)
Didi Dodo, Future Spy: Robo-Dodo Rumble (#2)
Didi Dodo, Future Spy: Double-O Dodo (#3)
DJ Funkyfoot: Butler for Hire! (#1)
128 pages, Paperback
First published March 30, 2021
6 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
About the author
Tom Angleberger
89 books793 followersTom Angleberger artist-turned-writer. He is a columnist for the Roanoke Times in Roanoke, Virginia, and began work on his first book while in middle school. Tom is married to author-illustrator Cece Bell. He lives in Christianburg, Virginia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
August 22, 2021
Welcome to the wacky world of DJ Funkyfoot. No, he isn't a hip hop DJ. He is an aspiring butler. DJ's first job offer that isn't related to hip hop is a nanny job --for an adorable baby shrub. DJ takes the job and finds it difficult not to act like a butler. Soon the baby shrub has him agreeing to all her requests and they are on the run from Inspector Flytrap. Included are their hilarious experiences on a variety of game shows and the realization that it is not good for the baby shrub to always get what she wants. Even without reading any of the Inspector Flytrap books, I had no trouble jumping right into DJ Funkyfoot's world. Looking forward to his second adventure!
Thank you to ABRAMS Kids and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to ABRAMS Kids and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
September 15, 2020
First sentence: My phone rang. “Greetings,” I said. “I am DJ Funkyfoot, and I am at YOUR service.” “Good,” said a prickly voice. “I’m Cactus Kwame of Cactus Kwame’s Roller Rink and Disco Rodeo. I need a DJ for our big Disco Rodeo Roller Boogie Contest tonight!” “Ah,” I said. “I’m afraid you have made a common mistake, sir.” “No way!” said Cactus Kwame, and he was extra prickly. “I never make a mistake.” “Yes, sir,” I replied, even though I knew he HAD made a mistake. I am a butler who serves tea, not a DJ who plays music.
Premise/plot: DJ Funkyfoot is looking for work as a butler. Unfortunately for him those are seemingly hard to come by--at least where he lives. Fortunately for us readers, however, since this leads to DJ Funkyfoot taking a job as a NANNY. (DJ Funkyfoot takes a job as a nanny for ShrubBaby or "M'Lady ShrubBaby" as she comes to be called.) There is a BIG difference between the two:
“So,” said the small shrub. “What is the very important difference between a nanny and a butler?” “Well,” I said, “a nanny’s job is to say no. A butler’s job is to say yes.”
“A nanny’s job is to be wise and wonderful and to help a child grow up safe and sound. This may require the nanny to tell a child no or even ‘Absolutely not!’”
“Sounds awful,” said the small shrub. “What about a butler?” “Well,” I said, “a butler’s job is to do whatever they are asked. This may require them to say, ‘Yes, ma’am’ or ‘Absolutely, sir.’” “Sounds a lot better,” said the small shrub. “Can you give me an example?”
The book chronicles their many misadventures of the day...some of which ends up on the television!
The show’s studio looked like a giant kitchen, but it was full of chickens with cameras and microphones. One enormous chicken came running over to us. “I’m Little Red Hen, the host of this show. One of our contestants just quit, and we need a new one. Who will help me? Who will be on my show?” “We will!” hollered ShrubBaby. “One moment,” I said “Would you please tell us why the other contestant quit?” “He thought it was too dangerous,” said Little Red Hen. “Now put on these hats, and let’s start baking!”
“Welcome to Extreme Cake Bakers Showdown: Ultimate!” clucked Little Red Hen. “Today we have the country’s best bakers taking on our toughest challenge yet: the world’s tallest wedding cake!” Chickens started hauling out huge pans, big bags of flour, barrels of frosting, and fifty-two-foot-tall ladders. “Our contestants today are the best of the best. Jacques Raptor from Paris, Datrice the Camel from Rome, and . . . what was your name again?”
“Sorry, hip-hop star, there’s no time for chitchat. You only have twenty-two minutes to bake your cake. Starting . . . NOW!” It ended badly.
My thoughts: DJ Funkyfoot was so over-the-top absurd that it was hilarious. I loved, loved, loved every moment of it. The world is entirely peopled with PLANTS and ANIMALS. (There's not a human in sight.) This one was a joy to read. I look forward to recommending it when it releases next spring.
Premise/plot: DJ Funkyfoot is looking for work as a butler. Unfortunately for him those are seemingly hard to come by--at least where he lives. Fortunately for us readers, however, since this leads to DJ Funkyfoot taking a job as a NANNY. (DJ Funkyfoot takes a job as a nanny for ShrubBaby or "M'Lady ShrubBaby" as she comes to be called.) There is a BIG difference between the two:
“So,” said the small shrub. “What is the very important difference between a nanny and a butler?” “Well,” I said, “a nanny’s job is to say no. A butler’s job is to say yes.”
“A nanny’s job is to be wise and wonderful and to help a child grow up safe and sound. This may require the nanny to tell a child no or even ‘Absolutely not!’”
“Sounds awful,” said the small shrub. “What about a butler?” “Well,” I said, “a butler’s job is to do whatever they are asked. This may require them to say, ‘Yes, ma’am’ or ‘Absolutely, sir.’” “Sounds a lot better,” said the small shrub. “Can you give me an example?”
The book chronicles their many misadventures of the day...some of which ends up on the television!
The show’s studio looked like a giant kitchen, but it was full of chickens with cameras and microphones. One enormous chicken came running over to us. “I’m Little Red Hen, the host of this show. One of our contestants just quit, and we need a new one. Who will help me? Who will be on my show?” “We will!” hollered ShrubBaby. “One moment,” I said “Would you please tell us why the other contestant quit?” “He thought it was too dangerous,” said Little Red Hen. “Now put on these hats, and let’s start baking!”
“Welcome to Extreme Cake Bakers Showdown: Ultimate!” clucked Little Red Hen. “Today we have the country’s best bakers taking on our toughest challenge yet: the world’s tallest wedding cake!” Chickens started hauling out huge pans, big bags of flour, barrels of frosting, and fifty-two-foot-tall ladders. “Our contestants today are the best of the best. Jacques Raptor from Paris, Datrice the Camel from Rome, and . . . what was your name again?”
“Sorry, hip-hop star, there’s no time for chitchat. You only have twenty-two minutes to bake your cake. Starting . . . NOW!” It ended badly.
My thoughts: DJ Funkyfoot was so over-the-top absurd that it was hilarious. I loved, loved, loved every moment of it. The world is entirely peopled with PLANTS and ANIMALS. (There's not a human in sight.) This one was a joy to read. I look forward to recommending it when it releases next spring.
November 20, 2021
He’s not a DeeJay, though that is a common mistake. His parents wanted him to be a hip-hop star, so they named him DJ Funkyfoot. But DJ wants to be a butler. He’s between gigs because his former employer, Countess Zuzu Poodle-oo, lost all her money and could no longer afford DJ’s services.
And then the fateful phone call. A stressed-out voice looking for a nanny. And though DJ tries to explain that he is not a nanny, but a butler, the stressed-out voice insists that DJ comes right over. And, since he needs the job, DJ obliges. Boy is that a mistake. Suddenly, DJ is in charge of an adorable ShrubBaby. The problem is: Nannies can tell their charges “No” and often do. But a butler always says “yes.” With that bit of knowledge, ShrubBaby takes the two of them on a wild and crazy adventure that includes a pickle relish truck driven into a pond, a spot on several ridiculous TV shows and some nasty smelling slime.
Early readers, especially fans of the other books in the series, will enjoy this rollercoaster ride.
And then the fateful phone call. A stressed-out voice looking for a nanny. And though DJ tries to explain that he is not a nanny, but a butler, the stressed-out voice insists that DJ comes right over. And, since he needs the job, DJ obliges. Boy is that a mistake. Suddenly, DJ is in charge of an adorable ShrubBaby. The problem is: Nannies can tell their charges “No” and often do. But a butler always says “yes.” With that bit of knowledge, ShrubBaby takes the two of them on a wild and crazy adventure that includes a pickle relish truck driven into a pond, a spot on several ridiculous TV shows and some nasty smelling slime.
Early readers, especially fans of the other books in the series, will enjoy this rollercoaster ride.
September 12, 2020
I received an eARC courtesy of Amulet Books & Edelweiss in exchange for my honest review.
Any kid looking for over-the-top silliness need look no further. This is not my type of book, but I can totally appreciate how much kids will like it. For me-it is just not my cup of cocoa.
While reading such an advance copy does not give me the benefit of illustrations, I have no doubt that Fox will bust out something awesome in the real printing.
For libraries: If you have fans of Inspector Flytrap and absurd humor, this will be quite popular. If anything the cover and title will be an easy sell.
Any kid looking for over-the-top silliness need look no further. This is not my type of book, but I can totally appreciate how much kids will like it. For me-it is just not my cup of cocoa.
While reading such an advance copy does not give me the benefit of illustrations, I have no doubt that Fox will bust out something awesome in the real printing.
For libraries: If you have fans of Inspector Flytrap and absurd humor, this will be quite popular. If anything the cover and title will be an easy sell.
March 12, 2021
This was such an enjoyable read.
DJ Funky Foot is a butler who is mistaken for anything but which sets him off on a very unexpected day with his charge. Despite it being aimed at around the 8/9 age marker, I appreciated the comedy and the rhymic repetition of escalating disasters.
The ending didn't transition at the right pace for me but I liked the moral being spelt out.
I think the target audience would enjoy reading this short chapter book. Additionally, I think 4+ would enjoy hearing a chapter or 2 per night at story/bedtime. It was unfortunate the artwork wasn't fully available in my ARC copy, but I loved the simple hand drawn doodles in the ebook version. 4/5.
DJ Funky Foot is a butler who is mistaken for anything but which sets him off on a very unexpected day with his charge. Despite it being aimed at around the 8/9 age marker, I appreciated the comedy and the rhymic repetition of escalating disasters.
The ending didn't transition at the right pace for me but I liked the moral being spelt out.
I think the target audience would enjoy reading this short chapter book. Additionally, I think 4+ would enjoy hearing a chapter or 2 per night at story/bedtime. It was unfortunate the artwork wasn't fully available in my ARC copy, but I loved the simple hand drawn doodles in the ebook version. 4/5.
March 8, 2022
Despite his parents' musical aspirations for their son, DJ Funkyfoot is determined to be a butler. He receives his first request for butler service from the Shrub family. (Un)fortunately, Shrub Baby's parents don't know the difference between a butler and a nanny. (A nanny will sometimes say no, but a butler will always say yes.) Shrub Baby, for her part, is thrilled to have her own personal butler. Now she can finally do everything her impulsive little heart desires . . . like become a super adorable television star!
Written by the husband of Cece Bell, the graphic novelist of El Deafo fame, this wacky little chapter book is sure to entertain any kid with a penchant for humor.
Written by the husband of Cece Bell, the graphic novelist of El Deafo fame, this wacky little chapter book is sure to entertain any kid with a penchant for humor.
May 2, 2021
Spin off from Inspector Fly Trap. DJ is a butler who is often confused for either a disc jockey or hip hop performer. Mid-elementary readers will love the humorous adventures DJ and his charge, Baby Shrub, get into as they drive pickle trucks into lakes and appear on several reality TV challenges.
The illustrations and easy to follow text allows readers to enjoy this themselves or as a family or class read aloud.
The illustrations and easy to follow text allows readers to enjoy this themselves or as a family or class read aloud.
August 17, 2025
DJ Funkyfoot decided to make a different name for himself than the one his parents were hoping for. While they were all DJs and rappers, he was all posh and butlers. After losing his job, he is a bit deseperate for work. He agrees to be the nanny of a little baby shrub. Except butlers always say yes, so this shrub baby caused a load of chaos.
A humorous and cute read with engaging illustrations. A good story for pure entertainment.
A humorous and cute read with engaging illustrations. A good story for pure entertainment.
October 17, 2020
Lots of laughs and a big life lesson delivered in this beginning chapter book! Meet DJ Funkyfoot as he stumbles into a new job as a baby sitter to a little shrub. Things unfortunately get a little out of hand. Lots of connections to the "Inspector Flytrap" series, yet the book holds it own as a stand alone title. Great fun for all!
March 28, 2021
In classic Tom Angleberger fashion, DJ Funkyfoot is full of laughs and silliness. A spin-off of the Inspector Flytrap series, butler DJ Funkyfoot (no he’s not a hiphop artist) takes on a big challenge - being a nanny without actually being a nanny to ShrubBaby. Kids looking for some fun need look no further! E ARC provided by Netgalley. #netgalley #DJFunkyfoot
December 25, 2020
More silly laughs for fans of the Inspector Flytrap series, or for new fans too. A bit of a message too. I enjoyed this and am pretty sure I will be able to have young readers jump to read it once it comes out in March. Inspector Flytrap was pretty popular over the last few years.
April 23, 2021
The right amount of ridiculousness as DJ Funkyfoot plows forward with his aspiration to be a butler, even when everyone assumes he does something else and his new charge takes advantage of his willingness to say yes to the most ridiculous ideas.
October 28, 2023
Super cute and funny! My daughter loves this series.
I needed a book bought in an independent bookstore to fulfill a prompt for 2023 Popsugar Reading Challenge and this was perfect, since I get all my books from the library but purchased this one for the kiddo. Win win!
I needed a book bought in an independent bookstore to fulfill a prompt for 2023 Popsugar Reading Challenge and this was perfect, since I get all my books from the library but purchased this one for the kiddo. Win win!
August 31, 2024
Vee loves this series in both Kindle and audible versions. When we read it without audible, she asks me or she tries herself to imitate the voices like the slightly English butler voice, Very Good, Sir. We love this series.
December 26, 2025
DJ Funkyfoot is a butler... not a DJ. The parents of an extremely bossy baby potted plant hire DJ to babysit so they can go out. Pandemonium ensues. I appreciated the ending where the baby plant learned her lesson. I also appreciated the incorporation of Inspector Flytrap and Nina.
May 3, 2021
This book made me and my 7-year-old laugh so hard! Wacky and very entertaining!
May 30, 2021
Loved it! Cute book for beginning readers
July 8, 2021
A super fun madcap adventure featuring some wacky, yet loveable characters.
August 17, 2021
Loved it!
October 7, 2021
This made me laugh ♥️
November 11, 2021
Really cute tale!
December 13, 2021
Very silly and entertaining read aloud for early elementary kids.
June 5, 2022
3.5 stars for this unrealistic emergent reader about a dog who is a butler and an adorable baby shrub who is a brat
Read
June 5, 2022This is of course a funny idea - butler sounds like a DJ name and they have a YES day/butler (not nanny) day.
July 21, 2022
Hilarious story about an ex-DJ turned butler and a baby shrub and their crazy adventures in one day. Young readers will love this story and all the chaos!
Read
November 19, 2023I recommend reading this book aloud to a child who isn’t yet reading.
July 29, 2024
What a professional. Great butler, terrible nanny.
November 12, 2024
Silly, made Will laugh a lot. Maybe too silly for me and too silly for Margot to follow.
June 17, 2021
A dog butler is hired by some trees to take care of their Shrub Baby. They proceed to do every bizarre thing the baby asks to do, most things end badly. I’ll have to see what the kids think of this because I didn’t get it. At all.
November 10, 2021
This book is goofy, I loved it. DJ Funky foot isn't a DJ, he's a butler that is forced into being a nanny for crazy cute shrub baby. Perfect beginner chapter book for students.
Publication: 2021
Genre: Fiction
Publication: 2021
Genre: Fiction
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews