Hocus-Pocus Hound (I Am Reading) - Softcover

Samantha Hay worked as a journalist for the BBC for twelve years before becoming a children's book author. She is also the author of the humorous I Am Reading bestseller Creepy Customers.

Grade 1–3—Marvo the magician takes out his frustration with mastering his latest trick on his bungling assistant, Doris, because she fidgets. He decides that the next person he sees will replace her and goes outside into the alley. The only one there is a dirty old dog. Marvo chooses him and leaves the cleaning and primping for Doris to do. Not only is the pooch caked with mud, but he also has bad breath and a gas problem. However, he turns out to be a great assistant. The act is successful, Marvo makes lots of money, and he fires Doris. Hocus-Pocus Hound exacts his revenge by doing a magic trick of his own. This amusing book will delight newly independent readers, who will cheer for Doris and Hocus-Pocus Hound as they put Marvo in his place. The illustrations are a good match for the text, adding lots of color, humor, and detail. More challenging vocabulary (e.g., "audience," "applause," "fidgeting") is repeated several times, providing good opportunities for practice, but the number of words on each page could be daunting for less-experienced readers, and may be most appropriate for fluent third graders.—Mary Hazelton, Elementary Schools in Warren & Waldoboro, ME
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