Jeet and Fudge: Forever Friends

by Amandeep S. Kochar, Candy Rodó (Editor), Weaverbird Interactive (Illustrator)

Overview

Jeet is new to town and a little lonely. To combat this, he and his mom start volunteering at a local animal shelter. There, Jeet makes a new friend in a happy puppy, Fudge! Jeet’s world is about to get a whole lot better.

Kids and adults alike will delight in this level 2 emerging reader, the first in a series about a young Sikh boy, his “yummy” sidekick puppy, and their adventures in volunteerism and play.

This title is leveled using both the Lexile and Fountas & Pinnell reading level standards.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781223183466
Publisher:	Paw Prints Publishing
Publication date:	10/04/2022
Series:	Jeet and Fudge , #1
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)
Age Range:	5 - 7 Years

About the Author

Amandeep ‘Aman’ S. Kochar is President and CEO of Baker & Taylor, the near 200-year-old book distributor, content services, and software company. He is Edtech Digest’s 2021 Global Leader of the Year, and a passionate champion for early literacy and education, serving on the board of directors for both United for Libraries, a division of the American Libraries Association (ALA), and the National Book Foundation. Formerly of New Delhi, Aman lives in North Carolina with his family, which includes “the real” Fudge.

Editorial Reviews

08/01/2022

K-Gr 2—The first in a new beginning reader series, this book introduces Jeet, a boy who has just moved to town with his adoptive parents. In a bid to cheer up her son, Bebbe takes him on a tour of the town, where a chance encounter with the local animal shelter grabs Jeet's attention. Bebbe suggests that they volunteer at the shelter to care for the dogs that are waiting for their forever-homes. Jeet becomes especially taken with a lively pup named Fudge. He asks Bebbe and Bupa if they can give Fudge a home the same way they did for him. After a night of wishful dreaming, Jeet finds that his adventures are just beginning. Jeet's family, who are first-generation Indian American and practicing Sikhs, are a welcome sight in the landscape of early readers. An afterword discusses the importance of animals, harmony, and community service within the religion, and this first entry is a promising start to the centrality these themes will have in future releases. Taken on its own terms, the narrative lacks dramatic urgency in making readers feel for Jeet's initial plight, and the climax that finds his parents essentially solving the central conflict is a bit of a letdown. Still, the book's bright tone and illustrations will appeal to young audiences. VERDICT An optional purchase for libraries considering an addition to their collection of animal friendship stories or expansion to their diverse representation.—Jonah Dragan

School Library Journal