Bernadette in the Doghouse
“The best buds and pets themes are definitely in line with the interests of its intended Grade 3 readership.”
—Canadian Children’s Book News
From the reviews
“When her former best friend Jasmine comes to visit during winter break, third-grader Bernadette ignores her current friends, hurting their feelings and coming close to breaking up the Lunch Bunch … When Bernadette realizes how much she values these new friends … she comes up with the perfect lunch strategy to make things right. In this sequel to Bernadette and the Lunch Bunch (2009), Glickman again portrays elementary-school life realistically. Bernadette’s difficulties juggling her friendships, her longing for a puppy of her own and her discomfort when her classmates think she’s responsible for the month-long Healthy Food Challenge will feel familiar. The relatively long, mostly un-illustrated chapters are best suited for the most able chapter-book readers, who will appreciate the challenge and are less often served by material appropriate to their lives and experiences.
A satisfying sequel leaving room for more.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Bernadette in the Doghouse is the second book in the Lunch Bunch series, which revolves around the adventures of third-grader Bernadette and her three special friends, Annie, Keisha, and Megan. Bernadette faces a friendship dilemma when her best friend Jasmine comes to visit for the holidays and Bernadette ends up ignoring her Lunch Bunch friends to be with Jasmine, visiting the science center, and conducting weird experiments attempting to create ice cream from snow. Bernadette’s mother plays a special role in believing in her daughter’s ability to create solutions to her relationship dilemmas. The whole thorny issue of BFF competitive friendships is tackled creatively in Bernadette in the Doghouse, and solutions that are crafted may resonate significantly with a young female readership who face similar problems.
Bernadette in the Doghouse manages not to take itself too seriously while offering some serious food for thought, with cheery black and white pencil illustrations and positive believable action and exposition to balance the book.
Bernadette in the Doghouse is an all-around winner, and readers will eagerly anticipate the third volume of the Lunch Bunch series.”
—Midwest Book Review
“The second book in the Lunch Bunch series follows schoolgirl super-scientist Bernadette Inez O’Brian Schwartz into complicated territory. Instead of trying to solve a tricky experiment, she has to navigate the more complex terrain of friendship. Bernadette’s old best friend, Jasmine, has moved away, but she is returning for a visit during the winter holidays. Bernadette naturally wants her stay to be special. Jasmine camps out in Bernadette’s room for three days, they take a trip to the Science Centre, and they make ice cream the old-fashioned way with snow from the backyard.
The trouble is that Bernadette’s new crew, the Lunch Bunch, aren’t invited along. In fact, Bernadette won’t even return their calls while Jasmine is visiting. Once Jasmine returns home and school starts up again in January, Bernadette finds herself being left out. It takes an extra special Lunch Bunch strategy to show Keisha, Megan, and Annie how important they are to her.
Glickman develops Bernadette’s gang of girls a little further in this book, while maintaining the spirit of the original Lunch Bunch story. The focus is on Bernadette and Keisha’s relationship, but the other girls are given their moments in the spotlight as well: Annie proves to be a talented gymnast, and Megan shows an aptitude for helping others get along. As the girls work through the mire of school-age jealousies, they befriend an elderly neighbour and volunteer to help out with her garden.
The text is broken up by Melanie Allard’s engaging black-and-white illustrations — the inclusion of which is a solid technique to help younger readers bridge the gap between picture books and junior novels — and there’s enough in the way of science and recipes to keep fans of the first book interested in the series.”
—Quill & Quire
“What makes someone your best friend? In this sequel to Bernadette and the Lunch Bunch, a group of smart, clever third-grade girls try to figure it out. Bernadette and her friends have a great time playing together, doing projects, sharing Christmas and Hanukkah traditions, and organizing fun themed lunches. But when Jasmine, who used to live nearby, comes back to visit, Bernadette wants to spend all their time catching up, and her other friends feel left out. Now Bernadette is in the doghouse, and not just because she desperately wants a puppy. Susan Glickman presents a cast of likable, believable characters who discover together what it means to be a friend … the important message makes this book a valuable addition to most collections serving chapter book readers. Highly recommended for grades 2-5.”
—Association of Jewish Libraries Reviews
“Bernadette learns some valuable lessons about friends, old and new. A great gift for kids age 7-9 who are learning to understand how to handle themselves in the sometimes tricky realm of friendship.”
—Open Book Toronto Holiday Book Guide
“Bernadette is a red-headed, vivacious, smart, investigative, and confident eight-year-old that loves animals and her friends … Susan Glickman clearly demonstrates how an eight-year-old mind works with vibrancy, energy and heightened speed … his chapter book with a few black ink cartoon illustrations and a vibrant cover is sure to capture any eight to twelve-year-old confident, talented and curious girl’s heart.”
—Resource Links
“We were … reading a chapter book about a third grader named Bernadette who identifies herself as a young scientist – Bernadette in the Doghouse. The added complexity of this book was how much more complicated friendships are beginning to become for girls her age. Along with the world of science, these are deep waters to navigate. It was nice to have a story so Elizabeth understands that she is not alone when friend A says something bad about friend B or friend C says she doesn’t want to play with her today.
Here is to hoping that the coming new year is a time of wonderful discoveries in science and friendly friendship for girls (and boys) all over the world!”
—Emerging Readers blog
