Parents' Guide to

Hudson and the Puppy: Lost in Paris: Paris-Chien, Book 3

By Regan McMahon, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 5+

Dog helps homeless pup in charming Paris adventure.

Book Jackie Clark Mancuso Picture Book 2018
Hudson and the Puppy: Lost in Paris: Paris-Chien, Book 3 Poster Image

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What's the Story?

When Hudson goes to get his daily baguette, take in a movie at le cinéma, and catch the Métro to the Jardin des Plantes, he gets a feeling that someone's following him and spots a little brown dachshund. Hudson asks him if he's lost, but the dachshund says nothing. "Maybe he's shy, or scared," Hudson speculates. "I think he's just a puppy. Maybe he doesn't know how to talk yet." Hudson tells him, "I know Paris pretty well. I can help you find your way home. Let's look for a neighborhood you recognize." They travel all around the city, from the Jardin du Luxembourg to Montmartre, and then, to cover more ground more quickly, they switch to a motorbike and Hudson drives them through the streets. Then they hop on a boat on the Seine. "In the middle of the ride," says Hudson, "I have a scary thought. Maybe he doesn't have a home. Maybe he never had a home." Hudson puts him in a box on the street labeled "free puppy" in French, but all the passersby have a reason they can't take him. Finally Hudson brings him home to his apartment and asks his human "mom" (offstage) if they can adopt him and she agrees to. "Maybe that's what he wanted all along," Hudson concludes. He names the puppy Pierre, "and now we eat baguettes, ride the carousel, and see lots of movies, together."

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

The Paris-Chien series is fun for anyone who loves France and dogs, but this adventure is especially charming as Hudson crisscrosses Paris to help a lost puppy. His search drives the action as they pass though different neighborhoods, with subtle labels (in French) identifying landmarks such as the stairs leading up to Montmartre, the Tour Eiffel, and the Jardin des Plantes, "a beautiful garden with a zoo and merry-go-round." There are also some spots not on all tourists' radar, like the graffiti-splashed Maison de Serge Gainsbourg and the Porte Saint-Denis neighborhood, which "has food from all over the world. Curry, kebabs, and Turkish pizza." Hudson asks the puppy, "Does it smell familiar?"

Author-illustrator Jackie Clark Mancuso's exuberant gouache street scenes capture the bustling city life, and she doesn't skimp on showing the dogs' changing emotions, conveyed through their expressive faces and body language. Whether they're whizzing by on a scooter, with fur and ears flying in the wind, or walking slowly with slumped shoulders and lowered heads, we always know exactly how they feel. Kids will delight in seeing the newly adopted puppy finally smiling on the last page.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Paris looks in Hudson and the Puppy: Lost in Paris. Does it look like where you live? How is it different? Would you like to visit Paris someday?

  • What do you think of the author mixing real situations and made-up ones? Did it surprise you to see a dog driving a motor scooter or going to the movies? Why do you think the author decided to have Hudson doing things people do?

  • Has your family ever adopted a pet? Would you like to adopt one? What do you think of the reasons the grown-ups on the street give for not wanting a free puppy?

Book Details

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