Official Review: Picture Perfect by D.G. Stern

Chigozie Anuli Mbadugha · Post by **Chigozie Anuli Mbadugha** » 25 Sep 2018, 14:12

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Picture Perfect" by D.G. Stern.]

4 out of 4 stars

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Picture Perfect by D. G. Stern is a middle-grade adventure novel about a family that solves crimes and mysteries. The Charles family comprises of a father, a mother, a set of twins, a cat, and a dog. The story is written from the point of view of Upton Charles, the dog. There are twenty-seven short chapters in the book. Each chapter begins with a black and white illustration. The illustrations were done by Deborah Allison. Upton Charles and his owner’s walk is interrupted by a fire incident in a neighbor’s house. This disrupts their lunch plans as well as their itinerary for the day. The damage to the neighbor’s house and property is minimal but appears to have been intentionally induced. The clues do not add up, and the Charles’ family work together to solve the mystery.

I liked reading the story from the unusual point of view of the dog Upton Charles. Upton is a likeable, witty character. Upton’s introduction of the rest of the family at the beginning of the book was entertaining. His description of the twins and their frequent fights was hilarious. Most parents and children can relate to the fights associated with sibling rivalry. The antics he uses to pass on information to his “father” made me laugh a lot especially the part in which he uses sneezing to suggest that he would like some food. This humor is age-appropriate as children also use different methods to indicate their needs to their parents.

The book will appeal to children and animal lovers. The fact that a cat was included in the “spy” family will make it appealing to both dog and cat lovers. It highlights the possibility of increased and productive interaction between pets and their owners.

I loved the use of character humor and wit in the story. It is entertaining and teaches children the importance of teamwork, deductive reasoning and logic. It would make a great holiday book to read by the beach. It reminded me of a book I have reviewed titled “The Diary of a Snoopy cat” by R. F. Kristi in which the detective was the snoopy cat.

The writing is smooth, and the story flows effortlessly. The vocabulary is appropriate for children aged 7 and above. The black and white illustrations at the beginning of each chapter can be painted by readers as added fun. I found no grammatical errors, so I think it was professionally edited. I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars, and I heartily recommend it to children aged 7 and above as well as young adults. It is the type of book one can read several times without getting tired. It is a useful addition to family and school libraries.

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Picture Perfect
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Debjani Ghosh · Post by **Debjani Ghosh** » 27 Oct 2018, 00:38

Great review! This seems to be an enjoyable read for children and young adults. A dog describing his family sounds adorable.

T_stone · Post by **T_stone** » 27 Oct 2018, 02:51

An interesting book that teaches children and parents importance of love and teamwork in a family. Nice review

fredrick otieno · Post by **fredrick otieno** » 27 Oct 2018, 07:58

I love cats and dogs. This is a book i would enjoy, even though it is for young adults, i still wouldn't mind reading it. Thanks for this great review.

Georgia Lyonhyde · Post by **Georgia Lyonhyde** » 27 Oct 2018, 09:55

I loved The Diary of a Snoopy Cat, as did my children. They are not quite the target age group but do enjoy books aimed at an older audience. I would be happy to give this book a go.

Britty01 · Post by **Britty01** » 27 Oct 2018, 13:10

This novel sounds delightful for young readers 7 and above and a nice book for someone to read to slightly younger children. I was curious so I peaked at the sample and it is an engaging story. I like the story coming from Upton Charles's point of view. Upton is a very cute Bichon Frise. He seems quite the character and knows how to communicate his needs, especially when it comes to food. Thanks for the nicely written review.

Post by **kandscreeley** » 29 Oct 2018, 09:10

I love that this mystery is from the dog's point of view. That makes it especially appealing. When I was younger, Encyclopedia Brown was one of my favorite series. This has the same mystery type aspect. I might pick it up just to feel like a kid again. Thanks.

writer808 · Post by **writer808** » 29 Oct 2018, 10:59

i could not resist reading the review after watching the cover of the book.Its humorous and jolly kind of book

Book Lover 35 · Post by **Book Lover 35** » 30 Oct 2018, 00:04

Sounds like my twins. I liked Diary of a Snoopy Cat. This sounds like a cute book. Thank you for the review!

Chigozie Anuli Mbadugha · Post by **Chigozie Anuli Mbadugha** » 20 Nov 2018, 16:52

T_stone wrote: ↑27 Oct 2018, 02:51 An interesting book that teaches children and parents importance of love and teamwork in a family. Nice review

Succinctly out T_stone! Thanks for reading and commenting on the review. Deeply appreciated!

Chigozie Anuli Mbadugha · Post by **Chigozie Anuli Mbadugha** » 20 Nov 2018, 16:54

Book Lover 35 wrote: ↑30 Oct 2018, 00:04 Sounds like my twins. I liked Diary of a Snoopy Cat. This sounds like a cute book. Thank you for the review!

It is a very cute book. I could barely put it down! We seem to have similar taste in books. I really liked the Diary of a Snoopy Cat. Thanks for commenting. Cheers!

Chigozie Anuli Mbadugha · Post by **Chigozie Anuli Mbadugha** » 20 Nov 2018, 16:55

writer808 wrote: ↑29 Oct 2018, 10:59 i could not resist reading the review after watching the cover of the book.Its humorous and jolly kind of book

Extremely jolly with a lot of excitement in the adventure. I will be looking out for the other books in the series! Thanks for reading and commenting. Cheers!

Chigozie Anuli Mbadugha · Post by **Chigozie Anuli Mbadugha** » 20 Nov 2018, 16:56

kandscreeley wrote: ↑29 Oct 2018, 09:10 I love that this mystery is from the dog's point of view. That makes it especially appealing. When I was younger, Encyclopedia Brown was one of my favorite series. This has the same mystery type aspect. I might pick it up just to feel like a kid again. Thanks.

Picking it up is a great idea. I enjoyed reading from the dog's perspective too. thanks for commenting!

Chigozie Anuli Mbadugha · Post by **Chigozie Anuli Mbadugha** » 20 Nov 2018, 16:57

Britty01 wrote: ↑27 Oct 2018, 13:10 This novel sounds delightful for young readers 7 and above and a nice book for someone to read to slightly younger children. I was curious so I peaked at the sample and it is an engaging story. I like the story coming from Upton Charles's point of view. Upton is a very cute Bichon Frise. He seems quite the character and knows how to communicate his needs, especially when it comes to food. Thanks for the nicely written review.

Thanks for your insightful comment and kind words. it is a good book to read!

Chigozie Anuli Mbadugha · Post by **Chigozie Anuli Mbadugha** » 20 Nov 2018, 16:59

Georgia Lyonhyde wrote: ↑27 Oct 2018, 09:55 I loved The Diary of a Snoopy Cat, as did my children. They are not quite the target age group but do enjoy books aimed at an older audience. I would be happy to give this book a go.

Thanks for commenting. I also loved The Diary of a Snoopy Cat! I think you will thoroughly enjoy reading this as well. Cheers!