KIDS FIRST! Jury Blog

Things are definitely going to be different in the Charles household, when Upton’s brother, Arthur, comes to live with the family. Like Upton, Arthur is a Bichon Frise (that’s BEE-shon free-ZEY) a little fluffy white dog. Both Watson, Upton’s feline assistant, and Upton are a little apprehensive until the Chief of Police calls to enlist the help of the entire Charles family. Arthur proves to everyone that he too is a talented canine sleuth. Join the expanded Charles family in Double Trouble.

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Emma O. comments, “Double Trouble is a great mystery book! Dog detectives bring an imaginative element that makes this book fun to read. A missing person case is always intriguing and the multiple characters in the book offer lots of humor.” Gavin S. adds, “What a joy it was to dive back into the whimsical world of Upton and his furry friends in Double Trouble! This sequel offers a delightful blend of mystery and heart, making it an engaging read for both young audiences and adults alike.” Clara T. adds, “I really like the book Double Trouble, especially because of its personification. The dog, Upton, is very smart and is part of the K9 force. I love how Upton is curious and always looking around for clues, which makes him different from other dogs.” KIDS FIRST! Adult Reviewer, Julie S. wraps it up with, “I have read several of the previous Upton Charles books and, even as an adult reader, find them fun and engaging. The language in Upton Charles: Double Trouble is just right for young readers; Upton is a delight. I love reading his thoughts. The problem-solving of the mystery makes our brains work, and I love the cute illustrations at the chapter headings.” Their full reviews are below. Enjoy.

Upton Charles Dog Detective:  Double Trouble
By Emma O., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12

Upton Charles Dog Detective:  I really enjoyed Alex, who always says he’s hungry. The characters are fun, and creative — from police officers, cats, dogs, and a kid who loves to eat.

Double Trouble is an entertaining read. Written by D. G. Stern and illustrations by Ginger Mark, it’s a mystery sleuth to solve the missing person from the perspective of a dog. Detective Upton Charles, a Bichon Frise, and his best friend, Watson the cat are members of the Charles family. They have solved previous mysteries written by Stern. The story follows a detective dog, Upton Charles and his cat best friend, Watson, who are members of the Charles family. Routine is disrupted when a third dog, Arthur, is adopted into the household. Upton and Watson are resistant to this new change. When a missing person case emerges on Moon Island, Arthur proves his worth as a detective and as a family member.

As the mystery grows and answers become harder to find, the book is very intriguing. This book in part of series and I wish I had read other books to know the background of the characters’ relationships. As a stand-alone mystery, the plot is easy to follow. The book is told from the dog’s perspective, which is fun because we don’t get to hear dog’s thoughts very often. The vocabulary is well suited for the target age and the book’s cover, showing a dog, Upton, also has good kid appeal. The art work on the title page of each chapter, provides a hint of what is next to come in the chapter. The book sparks thought and curiosity. My mind was trying to solve the mystery while reading it. I did not expect the plot twist at the end, which is something else that makes this book great for the target age group. When the family is investing in the abandoned boat, I was creating theories about what happened. The police involvement supports problem solving and working together.  The book keeps you hooked, trying to get you into solving the mystery yourself! Each chapter provides new clues that build the anticipation and mystery. It’s a great mystery book for those who are younger because it shows perseverance, problem solving and many positive traits. The book is imaginative and incredibly well written.

The book’s message is about problem solving and perseverance — to never give up when times get hard.

I give Upton Charles Dog Detective Double Trouble 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 12. It is available now wherever books are sold online and at select retailers.

Double Trouble
By Gavin S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 13

What a joy it was to dive back into the whimsical world of Upton and his furry friends in Double Trouble! This sequel offers a delightful blend of mystery and heart, making it an engaging read for both young audiences and adults alike.

In Double Trouble, the Charles household is turned upside down when Upton’s brother, Arthur, a fluffy Bichon Frise, comes to live with them. Initially met with skepticism by Upton and Watson, Arthur soon proves his worth when the Chief of Police enlists the entire family’s help to solve a puzzling case. Together, they embark on an adventure filled with twists and surprises that showcase their unique talents while deepening their bonds as a family.

What I truly enjoy about this book is the vibrant character development and the humor that permeates the narrative. Stern masterfully captures the distinct personalities of Upton, Arthur, and Watson, making readers genuinely invested in their journey. The playful sibling rivalry between Upton and Arthur highlights themes of acceptance, trust, and teamwork. As Upton navigates his feelings of jealousy, we witness a heartfelt transformation that underscores familial bonds. The witty dialogue and engaging interactions make each character relatable and endearing. Arthur’s charming antics bring out a softer side of Upton, while Watson’s loyal support adds depth to their dynamic. The humor, ranging from light-hearted banter to situational comedy, creates an enjoyable atmosphere. The plot is cleverly constructed, filled with unexpected twists that keep you guessing until the very end. Additionally, the heartwarming moments among the Charles family emphasize that every member has something valuable to contribute, reinforcing the idea that love and understanding can flourish even amidst change.

The book’s message is that you can never judge a book by its cover.

I give Double Trouble 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 through 12. This book is available now at online retailers and select bookstores. Be sure to check it out.

Double Trouble
By Clara T., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 11

I really like the book Double Trouble, especially because of its personification. The dog, Upton, is very smart and is part of the K9 force. I love how Upton is curious and always looking around for clues, which makes him different from other dogs.

The story follows Upton, our star detective, who is a very fun and curious dog. He is solving a mystery, but this adventure is different from others because his new brother joins him. Throughout the story they try to solve this “impossible” mystery. In the end, when he, his family and friends solve this mystery, they are triumphant.

Upton is a Bichon Frise that loves to explore. We see this characteristic when he is on an adventure and is always looking for new discoveries. In this book, Upton has two siblings, a dog named Arthur and a cat named Watson. He lives with a few humans, including his mom, his dad Hank, his sister Veronica, and his brother Alex. All the characters are kind and adventurous (just like Upton). Upton also has some personification and is so real that he sounds more like a human instead of a dog. There is some good onomatopoeia used in the story that shows us which animal is talking. For example, “Meow” and “Yip.” Kudos to the writer, D.G. Stern and illustrator, Ginger Marks for a well-constructed and entertaining story.

The film’s message is to always keep trying and never give up. Upton and his family have a hard time solving the mystery and find what they think is a dead end, but they keep trying and eventually solve the mystery.

I give Double Trouble 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 12. It can be found wherever books are sold.

Upton Charles: Double Trouble
By Julie S., KID FIRST! Adult Reviewer

I have read several of the previous Upton Charles books and, even as an adult reader, find them fun and engaging. The language in Upton Charles: Double Trouble is just right for young readers; Upton is a delight. I love reading his thoughts. The problem-solving of the mystery makes our brains work, and I love the cute illustrations at the chapter headings.

This story is told by the great Bichon Frise detective, Upton Charles, with assistance from his feline friend, Watson. It begins at a time when things seem to have reached a new calm in his household until, quite unexpectedly, a new dog joins the family. A walk on the beach reveals a possible problem when an abandoned sailboard is spotted on a nearby island and suddenly, everyone jumps into action trying to figure out what is going on.

I was not surprised that the new dog, Upton’s brother, Arthur, turns out to have natural “detective” instincts, just like Upton and, as they join the police chief investigating the stranded sailboat, he proves his skills. Bit by bit, the mystery unravels and the reader begins to make presumptions about what happened. I like how the clues are reiterated once a few have been collected, as a way to help the reader engage their deductive reasoning. I also like that there’s a lot of knowledge to be gained about boats, boat parts and how boats operate. If you’ve never been in the boating community, this story definitely teaches a thing or two about how things work. The dialogue between the family members, Upton, Watson and the new dog, Arthur, allows us an inside look at who is thinking or saying what. It makes me wonder how much the author listens to the dogs in his universe. I like how certain words, like wake, which might be unfamiliar to the reader, are explained. Another plus is how a few lessons are intertwined into the story about environmental awareness, such as the police chief’s disgust at finding plastic bottles in the sand and commenting on how long they take to disintegrate. There are a few typos such as: Chief O’Brien gives s ‘thumbs’ up (the a is missing). Also, there are some punctuation errors such as: type in the hospitals number (missing an apostrophe). But, for the most part, this is well written and definitely age appropriate.

The story reminds us of how to collect clues when solving any mystery we run into as they progress step by step in solving the mystery of the missing sailor.

I give Upton Charles: Double Trouble 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 12. It can be found online where books are sold and in select bookstores.

In ancient China after a clash with the humans, dragons are banished from the kingdom. Many years later, innocent and freedom-yearning orphan, Ping, is looking after the last two dragons when she discovers that one has sadly died, and the other is guarding a precious and rare dragon egg. As palace guards arrive, the remaining dragon, Danzi disappears, and before Ping has the opportunity to explain what has happened, she is mistaken for an accomplice and must runaway herself. Danzi and Ping escape from the palace together and must return the dragon egg to the ocean to save all dragons from extinction! On this wild and dangerous adventure, Ping finds a way to unlock her power and discovers she is a true Dragonkeeper.  Dragonkeeper comes from animation studio Ilion Animation Studios (Wonder Park, Planet 51) and the visual direction of the legendary Sergio Pablos (Rio, Despicable Me) & Borja Montoro (Zootopia).

KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Ariel K. comments, “I really enjoyed this film. It has lots of humor – there are all sorts of humorous scenes like my favorite, where the mouse tries helping. He marches up to the big fight against something 2,000,000 times his size.” See his full review below.

Dragonkeeper
By Ariel K., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12

I like the movie Dragonkeeper because it is funny and heartfelt.

The storyline is about a slave girl called Ping (Mayalinee Griffiths), who dreams about meeting dragons. Her dream comes true, but one of the magical creatures dies and she goes on a quest to save the dragons and hatch the last imperial dragons’ egg. Joining her is a dragon (Bill Nighy) as her protector and a funny “very helpful” mouse. She soon finds out that she has mystical powers and learns to use them to stop bad guys who want to steal the egg and use its powers for evil.

I really enjoyed this film. It’s an animated film with special effects. It also has lots of humor – there are all sorts of humorous scenes like my favorite, where the mouse tries helping. He marches up to the big fight against something 2,000,000 times his size. Another fun scene is when he rolls the egg away from the bad guys. The movie is also sad and heartfelt because one of the dragons dies.

The visual effects are great and really stand out. For example when one of the dragons heals Ping’s wound with the power of the egg as shown in the trailer. I do have to admit that some parts of the movie are a little childish. For example, there is a scene about 30 seconds long of two kids blowing raspberries at each other.

The film’s message is “you can do whatever you want; only you decide your destiny.”

I give Dragonkeeper 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 12. It is available on digital in the US now and opens in theaters in UK & Ireland on September 27, 2024. I hope you enjoy it.