Review Detail

In The McNifficents, Amy Makechnie tells the story of a large, chaotic, lovable family from the perspective of their Miniature Schnauzer Lord Tennyson. There are seven McNiff siblings, ranging in age from a crawling baby to a teen with a crush. The story starts in summer and Lord Tennyson has his paws filled as he tries to maintain order with his large brood of children and their many mishaps. It is a charming tale full of laugh-out-loud humor, heartwarming sibling dynamics, and tender moments.

What I Liked: The McNiff family members all have unique personalities. Whether it's Pearl wanting to be brave or Annie being the bossy big sister, every sibling has a different voice. My favorite character in the book was Mary, who got into all sorts of mischief that added to the drama.

An unexpected delight was having a dog narrate the book. The fact that Lord Tennyson takes his job as a self-proclaimed Nanny to the McNiff children very seriously just makes him all the more lovable.

What Left Me Wanting More: In this story, the parents seem very hands-off and focused on themselves. As an adult, I find the parents incompetent, but as a young reader, I can see why they might be amusing.

The McNifficents is a charming read for young readers who want to read about a dog's antics with a hilarious family.