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Pets Rule! #1
My Kingdom of Darkness: A Branches Book
Meet Ember, a rescue Chihuahua who has just been adopted by the Chin family. Ember is no ordinary dog, he thinks he is an evil overlord, destined to rule the world. He enlists the help of the other pets in the house, like Smelly Steve the hamster and Neo the canary, to take over the neighborhood. Their first mission is defeating Masher, the mean squirrel who lives next door. But to his shock, Ember finds himself growing attached to his “minions”, the Chin family―especially Lucy. Does Ember still have what it takes to control of the neighborhood… and the world?
96 pages, Paperback
First published June 28, 2022
36 people are currently reading
143 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
July 9, 2022
Readers young and older will love Ember the Chihuahua as he strives for domination, first over his new adoptive family the Chins and then the world! But his plan doesn't quite go as smoothly as he hopes. Hilarious, adorable, and sweet! I will be recommending this book to many young readers for sure!
October 26, 2023
My seven year old granddaughter said this was a winner! She likes to help me figure out if I should buy this or that book for the library. The humor and dog as the main character make this book highly recommended. The use of first person, great voice, and creation of an unreliable narrator was well done.
October 30, 2024
My youngest loved this so much, and it’s captivating enough to keep an adult interested while reading to their child 😂 We now own every book in the series.
April 18, 2023
Ember the chihuahua has an evil agenda. Recently adopted by the Chin family, he believes himself to be an evil overlord destined to take over the world. He enlists the other household pets (Smelly Steve the hamster, Neo the canary and BeBe the beetle) as his minions to take over the neighborhood, their first task to defeat Masher the bully squirrel. But what happens if Ember grows to like or even love the Chin family, especially Lucy?
(Very reminscent of Wedgie and Gizmo, maybe a little too much?)
(Very reminscent of Wedgie and Gizmo, maybe a little too much?)
November 7, 2022
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
When a small chihuahua is adopted by the Chin family, he is determined to recruit them as his minions so that they can abet his mission to take over the world. Sadly, this is hard to do when you come home from the shelter with the name "Chuckles" and are caged at night. Hamster Steve, canary Neo, and beetle BeBe are willing to make friends despite the dog's surly attitude, and warn him that the yard isn't fully theirs; there is an evil squirrel named Masher who has claimed it as his own and enforces his rights with his squirrel henchmen. This doesn't stop our budding evil overlord, who is a little concerned about trash cans and other scary things. With the help of Russian wolfhoud Zar, the group attempts to overthrow Masher, but it turns out that Zar is afraid of the rats that also help Masher. Lucy Chin is a good owner, and names the dog "Ember", since even something small can start a spark. When Lucy is threatened by a neighborhood bully, Ember comes to her rescue even though he is afraid, and his boldness inspires Lucy to stand up to him. The two are good allies who encourage each other to face their fears, which may be necessary when Lucy's grandmother, PohPoh, visits with her dog, Fluffy, in The Poodle of Doom: A Branches Book (Pets Rule #2) (October 4th 2022 by Scholastic Inc.)
Strengths: I adore beginning chapter books, and at 96 pages, this is a fantastic length. It has a good balance of text and pictures, moves quickly, and is really funny. The expressions on Ember's face... oh, my! Loved the family, loved that Ember was a shelter dog, and adored the illustrations.
Weaknesses: The squirrel looked much larger than I have ever seen a squirrel be.
What I really think: This was so clever and... evil. Like, I want to have grandchildren just so we can read this book together. I may actually have to buy a copy for myself, but ... oh, what the heck. I think some of my struggling readers at school would like this one as well.
When a small chihuahua is adopted by the Chin family, he is determined to recruit them as his minions so that they can abet his mission to take over the world. Sadly, this is hard to do when you come home from the shelter with the name "Chuckles" and are caged at night. Hamster Steve, canary Neo, and beetle BeBe are willing to make friends despite the dog's surly attitude, and warn him that the yard isn't fully theirs; there is an evil squirrel named Masher who has claimed it as his own and enforces his rights with his squirrel henchmen. This doesn't stop our budding evil overlord, who is a little concerned about trash cans and other scary things. With the help of Russian wolfhoud Zar, the group attempts to overthrow Masher, but it turns out that Zar is afraid of the rats that also help Masher. Lucy Chin is a good owner, and names the dog "Ember", since even something small can start a spark. When Lucy is threatened by a neighborhood bully, Ember comes to her rescue even though he is afraid, and his boldness inspires Lucy to stand up to him. The two are good allies who encourage each other to face their fears, which may be necessary when Lucy's grandmother, PohPoh, visits with her dog, Fluffy, in The Poodle of Doom: A Branches Book (Pets Rule #2) (October 4th 2022 by Scholastic Inc.)
Strengths: I adore beginning chapter books, and at 96 pages, this is a fantastic length. It has a good balance of text and pictures, moves quickly, and is really funny. The expressions on Ember's face... oh, my! Loved the family, loved that Ember was a shelter dog, and adored the illustrations.
Weaknesses: The squirrel looked much larger than I have ever seen a squirrel be.
What I really think: This was so clever and... evil. Like, I want to have grandchildren just so we can read this book together. I may actually have to buy a copy for myself, but ... oh, what the heck. I think some of my struggling readers at school would like this one as well.
March 5, 2023
DAD SAYS: Perfectly fine - and highly recommended - for kids of all ages. Especially if you have a pet Chihuahua!
*****
In general, I’m a fan of Branches books. Particularly book ones. Some of the series get painfully repetitive, but in most cases, I can see why the series was picked up. And “My Kingdom of Darkness” is another book one winner.
As mentioned above, if you have a pet Chihuahua - or know what they’re like - this book will be extra funny. But regardless if you know that Chihuahuas act like they crave world domination, this story is fantastic.
A new dog has moved in with the Chin family, and he quickly deems his humans and his fellow pets his new “subjects.” However, there’s someone he has to deal with if he wants to rule the neighborhood, not just his house - Masher the squirrel.
The story then mainly deals with the dog’s attempt to defeat Masher, and there is plenty of comedy along the way.
With plenty of illustrations like other Branches books, and a well-written story, this is a fun reading experience for parents and younger kids. (My second-grader still appreciates heavily illustrated chapter books.)
This is a winner, and we plan to continue reading the series. I have hopes that this one will remain good and find new storylines each time.
*****
In general, I’m a fan of Branches books. Particularly book ones. Some of the series get painfully repetitive, but in most cases, I can see why the series was picked up. And “My Kingdom of Darkness” is another book one winner.
As mentioned above, if you have a pet Chihuahua - or know what they’re like - this book will be extra funny. But regardless if you know that Chihuahuas act like they crave world domination, this story is fantastic.
A new dog has moved in with the Chin family, and he quickly deems his humans and his fellow pets his new “subjects.” However, there’s someone he has to deal with if he wants to rule the neighborhood, not just his house - Masher the squirrel.
The story then mainly deals with the dog’s attempt to defeat Masher, and there is plenty of comedy along the way.
With plenty of illustrations like other Branches books, and a well-written story, this is a fun reading experience for parents and younger kids. (My second-grader still appreciates heavily illustrated chapter books.)
This is a winner, and we plan to continue reading the series. I have hopes that this one will remain good and find new storylines each time.
July 29, 2022
Hilarious new Scholastic Branches series about a small chihuahua with big plans of world domination.
Ember is adopted into the Chin family, and is determined to make them his minions. Unfortunately, a lot of things stand in his way, like leashes, scary garbage cans, and the local squirrel gang led by Masher. There is actually a lot going on in this book. Lots of characters (including the beetle that lives in the houseplant), a few plot twists, some sweet moments (Ember bonds with the daughter in the family), and even some character growth. It’s also super funny (Chuckles, Smelly Steve) and I think kids will love it!
It reminds me of Klawde (one of my go to recommendations) but for a slightly younger audience, and with a dog. Highly recommend!
Ember is adopted into the Chin family, and is determined to make them his minions. Unfortunately, a lot of things stand in his way, like leashes, scary garbage cans, and the local squirrel gang led by Masher. There is actually a lot going on in this book. Lots of characters (including the beetle that lives in the houseplant), a few plot twists, some sweet moments (Ember bonds with the daughter in the family), and even some character growth. It’s also super funny (Chuckles, Smelly Steve) and I think kids will love it!
It reminds me of Klawde (one of my go to recommendations) but for a slightly younger audience, and with a dog. Highly recommend!
December 10, 2022
“You see, I am not an ordinary Chihuahua. I have a great and terrible destiny.”
The Chins have just adopted the a little Chihuahua puppy. They just don’t realize that this puppy has grand plans for world domination. The puppy is willing to start my gaining control over this house and these silly humans and then moving outward, but things don’t go exactly as he plans. First of all, the humans aren’t afraid of him at all. They think he’s cute. And then there are leashes to contend with and a prison gate. To make matters more complicated, he’s not alone. There’s Steve, the hamster; Neo, the canary and BeBe, the beetle. Okay, maybe these others can be his loyal subjects. But what about Masher, the bully of the neighborhood? Dominating this world isn’t going to be easy.
Cute
The Chins have just adopted the a little Chihuahua puppy. They just don’t realize that this puppy has grand plans for world domination. The puppy is willing to start my gaining control over this house and these silly humans and then moving outward, but things don’t go exactly as he plans. First of all, the humans aren’t afraid of him at all. They think he’s cute. And then there are leashes to contend with and a prison gate. To make matters more complicated, he’s not alone. There’s Steve, the hamster; Neo, the canary and BeBe, the beetle. Okay, maybe these others can be his loyal subjects. But what about Masher, the bully of the neighborhood? Dominating this world isn’t going to be easy.
Cute
January 5, 2023
Pets Rule! Is a Scholastic early chapter book that reminded me of The Secret Lives of Pets mixed with Pinky & The Brain in book form. The Chin family gets a pet chihuahua who wants to rule the world and makes some good attempts along with his fellow pets. It is spot-on for the recommended age group of 1st-3rd graders and it deals with bullying and making friends.
I gave it 3 stars because it is perfectly fine, but I can’t wholeheartedly recommend it over other early chapter book series. It would be good for a kid who is into animals and wants a new series to read. I also like it because it could appeal equally to boys and girls.
I gave it 3 stars because it is perfectly fine, but I can’t wholeheartedly recommend it over other early chapter book series. It would be good for a kid who is into animals and wants a new series to read. I also like it because it could appeal equally to boys and girls.
July 25, 2022
A great new option in the different Branches series from Scholastic. This one features a main character dog who was just adopted from a shelter. Ember is a small Chihuahua, but he's got a big spitfire personality. He's ready to be a ruler and achieve world domination, starting with his human family. He soon meets the other pets of the household and the mean evil bully squirrel who is already ruler of the neighborhood. They throw a wrench into his plans to rule the world.
Funny and perfect for dog lovers especially.
Can't wait for more from this series!
Funny and perfect for dog lovers especially.
Can't wait for more from this series!
June 15, 2023
Ember has just been adopted by the Chin family, and now that he's out of the shelter, he can start taking over the world! The other Chin family pets warn him that there's another animal that's taken over the neighborhood, a mean squirrel named Masher. Can Ember defeat him and begin his rule? I'm not a dog person at all, and I loved this one. It's a funny animal story. I loved that it wasn't your usual light and fluffy pet adoption story. For fans of Dear Beast, Mercy Watson, and Chicken Squad. Fair warning that it's a pet wanting to be an evil overlord...
December 25, 2024
The beginning of this was darling. The humor was just my type of humor. The dog was a real character.
The book couldn't sustain the tone and charm throughout, but it was still a cute story.
I love the idea of these "Branches" books that use shorter word count, younger audience appeal, bigger print, and great illustrations to encourage kids to transition into chapter books.
Speaking of illustrations, these were darling throughout.
More accurate rating (from a not-target-audience reader): 3.5
The book couldn't sustain the tone and charm throughout, but it was still a cute story.
I love the idea of these "Branches" books that use shorter word count, younger audience appeal, bigger print, and great illustrations to encourage kids to transition into chapter books.
Speaking of illustrations, these were darling throughout.
More accurate rating (from a not-target-audience reader): 3.5
November 28, 2024
A newly adopted chihuahua views his new family as his minions but his plans for world domination are thwarted by the evil squirrel who visits his yard. When the family's other pets come to his aid and help him solve the squirrel problem he stops seeing them as minions and begins too feel like part of the family. The story ends with the promise of the grandmother and her poodle of doom and devastation coming to visit.
March 30, 2025
This early chapter book series is great for grades 1-3. The stories are fast paced, humorous, and combine moments of realistic fiction with a heavy dose of fantasy. The stories are told from the perspective of Ember, the family dog and also future ruler of the planet. Readers will learn valuable social and emotional lessons from the stories. The illustrations (black and white) are incredibly well done and make the stories even more exciting.
May 10, 2025
My 5yo was resisting bedtime, so I sat in the armchair and started reading this aloud — within minutes she was in my lap, totally hooked. She usually likes to read a few chapters from multiple books but tonight kept giving me to go ahead to keep reading this one because she HAD to know what happened next! Illustrations on every page are really key for her, so HOORAY for that! So glad this series exists.
June 27, 2022
Dog lovers unite for this cute new early chapter book series. Ember has been adopted by the Chin family but is convinced that he is secretly an evil overlord meant to rule the world, but first he has to defeat the local evil squirrel. Furthermore, what is Ember to do when he realizes that he actually likes his new family? A great start to early chapter book for dog lovers.
May 18, 2023
Deeply funny, but with great heart -- I love that Ember is pretty consistently confident about his ability to dominate everyone around him, but also suffers setbacks, makes friends, figures out how to play to those friends' strengths, and has a loving family in the background. The Chins clearly know how to pick an excellent pet.
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July 7, 2022I don't think there has been a branches book I have not enjoyed! This was the first in a new series about pets. A chihuahua has been adopted into a new family and is getting used to the new "minions" in his "kingdom". It was an adorable easy read, I'm excited for the new installment.
January 21, 2023
This was a super fun read aloud for my 2nd Graders. They even voted for the second book as our next read aloud. I loved attempting Ember’s “world domination” voice. The kids were enraptured with the humor, cliff hangers, and characters in this story.
June 20, 2023
This book is highly entertaining! Even kids who don't have pets will laugh and feel genuine interest while reading this. I'm an adult and I cracked up a few times myself. I'm sure my 6yo is going to love it.
October 25, 2024
Very cute. Dogs vs squirrels but in a different way. Ember is a rescued Chihuahua who wants to rule the world so he never ends up in a shelter again, Masheris a squirrel who bullies. Very quick but fun book
February 24, 2025
Fast paced and full of ironic humor. Early readers who love pets will enjoy this feel-good adventure that celebrates friendship, family, and small victories. Spoiler alert: I especially like how Ember felt happy for his former bully getting to go free. Great lesson in empathy.
September 16, 2025
I read this to my 2nd grade class and they loved it! It's such a fun, silly and enjoyable story for young readers. It prompted great class discussions as well. The characters are silly and so much fun to read about! We can't wait to start the second book!
July 25, 2022
Funny and fast-paced. Ember the chihuahua has a lot of spunk and young readers will root for him.
September 7, 2022
I thought this was a cute, fun choice for younger readers.
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October 23, 2022Layla read this on her own and liked it.
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December 6, 2022Eh. Not my favorite of the Scholastic Branches series, but kids who like The Secret Lives of Pets may like it.
January 21, 2023
I read this to my kindergarten class and they LOVED it. Super cute book. We are now almost done with the second one and are awaiting the third one! Cute series with lots of pictures!
February 12, 2023
3.5 stars for this interesting pet takeover title
March 30, 2023
I can't stop laughing
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews