Review Detail

What a cute story! Butler for Hire! by Tom Angleberger is the first book in a brand new, spin-off series about a chihuahua butler and his new job as a nanny to an adorable baby shrub. Fans of The Flytrap Files may recognize DJ Funkyfoot, the prim and proper former butler of Countess Zuzu Poodle-oo who is frequently misidentified as a hip-hop star. The story begins with Funkyfoot being mistakenly hired as a nanny. Hilarity ensues when Funkyfoot tries to explain the difference between a nanny and a butler to his precocious, inquisitive charge.

Adorable Shrubbaby is a handful and, for Funkyfoot a butler unable to say no, trouble. The trouble begins when Shrubbaby realizes that Funkyfoot must do whatever she wants, and so one misdeed after another lands them in stinky water. The story moves at a fast, fun pace. The illustrations are engaging and as outlandish as some of Shrubbaby’s antics. Children and adults will laugh out loud and enjoy the adventurous day the two have. I personally liked that the story also ended with a moral: sometimes getting what you want isn’t always what you need. This book is perfect for early independent readers with its short chapters and easy to understand language but would also be a fun read aloud. I highly recommend you add it to your own collection.