Review: Sir DoGoody Button and Fleabins the Great…Troublemaker by K. Frances Carson

A delightful children’s book collecting the exhilarating adventures of two inseparable friends who wreak havoc everywhere they go, Sir DoGoody Button and Fleabins the Great…Troublemaker by K. Frances Carson is a charming work for new readers.

DoGoody is a well-dressed but goofy dog, while Fleabins, always attired in the most elegant garments, is a chaotic creature with a rather high self-esteem. Their explosive friendship turns an ordinary day into a wonderful adventure, sure to leave the Button family speechless, and make readers laugh out loud, as the book contains some authentically hilarious scenes. From a wedding to a public library, a tea party to a dog school, this adorable duo always manages to leave its unmistakable mark. The title perfectly encapsulates the main characters’ personalities, brought to life by Carson’s breezy, amusing prose, and the vivid illustrations by Shannon Mckeon, which feel like classic Roald Dahl imagery.

DoGoody is not an ordinary Afghan hound, and his friend Fleabins is not the everyday flea. Even their house, in the Button family’s backyard, is much stranger than first it seems – underneath what the Buttons consider to be just a common dog house, there is a giant mansion with room for parties, meadows, and an elevator that DoGood and Fleabins use to travel between the surface and their magical underground world. Fleabins, who is usually as big as a monkey, cannot step outside the elevator without immediately shrinking to the size of a pea. This is why he is never allowed out, to his great chagrin, and despite having loads of fun in the mansion with his friend, Fleabins does not like to stick to this rule. His nickname of “troublemaker” is well-deserved – for instance, it was in the attempt to save Fleabins from being eaten on a biscuit that DoGoody ended up knocking down one of the Button’s tea party guests, just one of the antics in a book where there are many, which will keep young readers engaged.

A free-for-all of imagination, Carson’s book has the ability to ignite children’s curiosity, as it cleverly calls attention to the little things in life, suggesting that there is so much more in the world around us than what simply meets the eye. While readers can busy themselves with the twists and turns of DoGood and Fleabins’s story, children could also be inspired to find the magic that exists in their own lives, which is a testament to the quality of writing and its potential impact. The book also imparts important lessons such as respecting other people’s property and listening to your family’s advice, which is never driven home too hard, and only allows these bits of wisdom to arise spontaneously through the story, keeping a light and humorous tone throughout.

Readers may feel like the various episodes in the book could form a clearer arc, as it is somewhat episodic, but ultimately the book’s slightly erratic style is part of its irresistible charm. A smart, authentically funny, and captivating middle-grade novel, this first installment is a stellar introduction to a new series for children.