4.0
All Pets Allowed: Blackberry Farm 2
ByPublisher Description
New dog, no tricks!
Becket Branch has one birthday wish—a dog! Dogs are outgoing and friendly, and they live life loud, just like Becket. Becket’s twin, Nicholas, wants a pet more like him—a peaceful, quiet indoor cat. When their parents take them to the shelter to choose a dog and a cat, it should be Becket’s biggest BEAUTIFUL ALERT ever. But Becket’s dream dog, Dibs, turns out to be a super-shy scaredy-pooch. Meanwhile, Nicholas’s kitty, Given, loves being the center of attention and greeting visitors to Blackberry Farm.
Can Becket and Nicholas learn how to love Dibs and Given as they are—even if they aren’t exactly the pets the twins dreamed of?
With black-and-white drawings throughout by award-winning illustrator LeUyen Pham (Real Friends), this second volume of the Blackberry Farm series offers a gentle message about embracing new friends who may not match preconceived expectations.
Becket Branch has one birthday wish—a dog! Dogs are outgoing and friendly, and they live life loud, just like Becket. Becket’s twin, Nicholas, wants a pet more like him—a peaceful, quiet indoor cat. When their parents take them to the shelter to choose a dog and a cat, it should be Becket’s biggest BEAUTIFUL ALERT ever. But Becket’s dream dog, Dibs, turns out to be a super-shy scaredy-pooch. Meanwhile, Nicholas’s kitty, Given, loves being the center of attention and greeting visitors to Blackberry Farm.
Can Becket and Nicholas learn how to love Dibs and Given as they are—even if they aren’t exactly the pets the twins dreamed of?
With black-and-white drawings throughout by award-winning illustrator LeUyen Pham (Real Friends), this second volume of the Blackberry Farm series offers a gentle message about embracing new friends who may not match preconceived expectations.
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4.0

Jill Jemmett
Created about 3 years agoShare
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“Becket and her twin brother Nicholas are turning ten on their October 10th birthday. Becket wants them to make a joint birthday wish for a dog. However, Nicholas secretly wants a cat. When they’re taken to the animal shelter, their parents surprise them with both getting the pet they want. Becket’s dog is quiet and shy, like Nicholas, while his cat is outgoing like Becket. The twins discover that having pets isn’t as easy as they thought.
This was a fun story about getting a pet. Usually, children’s books show the part leading up to getting the pet, but not necessarily the challenges after the pet is brought home. Becket’s and Nicholas’s pets had personalities that were actually more like their twin. Becket’s dog would go off to have quiet time, just like Nicholas did, and Nicholas’s cat liked to be the life of the party like Becket. They had to adjust to these new lifestyles.
Becket and Nicholas also had to get used to new chores that went along with their pets. Becket had to train her dog, and get him fed in the morning so he would settle down. Nicholas had the shock of finding a dead mouse in his room, a gift from his cat. These are some challenges that come along with a new pet.
All Pets Allowed is a fun middle grade story!
Thank you Algonquin Young Readers for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.”

Lianne
Created about 3 years agoShare
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“These books were such a great read, I really like the family values. How it addressed life changes, Upheaval and loss. The characters were s well developed and diverse, I especially liked Becket and Nicholas’s rela%onship showing that even though they are twins they have very individual personali%es.The Branch Family goes through a major change by moving from the big city to the quiet country, but the Branch Parents install great responsibility and accountability by handing chores over to the children to help them se)le in to their new life.A great book series for young readers and the illustra%ons were perfect. A*er reading I was very happy to pass the books on to a friends Son to keep the Branch Family love going”

Leelynn Brady
Created over 3 years agoShare
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“Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Adele Griffin and Algonquin Young Readers for this free copy. All quotes in this review are taken from the Advanced Reader Copy and may change in final publication.
Ahh both of these books were so cute! I’m so glad that I got to read both of them. I also have to give a huge shoutout to LeUyen Pham for these beautiful illustrations. A part of me wishes that YA books had more illustrations so we can experience it like this! Just a thought, publishers.
Not only did this book make me wish that I could go back to Guam when my grandparents had an active farm life – imagine my mom and her siblings helping out around the farm with all the farm animals surrounding the place – and see how it was back then. I know farm life is no joke and not easy at all, so it would have been such an interesting experience to actually participate. Sometimes a part of me wishes that I had that much land that I could allow the dogs to run around freely in a yard that’s much bigger than we have right now, and maybe a couple of horses and a stable. I think that’s the girl in me that has always wanted to have a horse and learn how to take care of it and have that kind of life.
We have the Branch siblings wanting to add some domestic animals to their family. Becket wants a dog, and her twin brother Nicholas wants a cat. Will a cat and a dog be able to get along with one another, let alone the rest of the animals? It works out in their favor that both parents are huge animal lovers, so think some positive thoughts on how that would turn out. Again this was such a cute story and I definitely recommend reading both of them.”
Quirky Cat
Created over 3 years agoShare
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“All Pets Allowed: Blackberry Farm 2, written by Adele Griffin and illustrated by LeUyen Pham, is an enchanting middle-grade novel, one that thrilled the pet-loving child within my heart.
All Becket Branch has ever wanted was a dog. Ideally, she'd like to get that dog for her tenth birthday. Meanwhile, her brother, Nicholas, has only ever wanted a cat. Who will get their birthday wish?
As it turns out, both children will be getting the pet of their dreams for their tenth birthday. Better yet, they'll be selecting their new forever friend from the local animal shelter. But will the pets be everything they imagined?
All Pets Allowed: Blackberry Farm 2 is undoubtedly one of the most charming novels I've read in quite some time. I loved everything about this story, from the kids and their parents to the endearing animals they picked out at the shelter.
Speaking of – I love that message woven into the narrative. In fact, many good lessons are being taught in All Pets Allowed: Blackberry Farm 2. Both kids went into the pet parent life with specific expectations – and they had to learn that life (and living creatures) don't always go or behave as planned.
LeUyen Pham illustrations help enhance the whole story for me, bringing the children, their pets, and their adventures to life. It was a sweet touch, and I'm certain that had I read this novel as a child, it would have quickly become one of my favorites.
Thanks to Algonquin Young Readers and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Check out more reviews at https://quirkycatsfatstacks.com/”
About Adele Griffin
Adele Griffin is the National Book Award-nominated author of numerous books for middle grade and young adult readers, including the popular Oodlethunks, Witch Twins, and Vampire Island series. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband and two children.
LeUyen Pham worked in animation before turning to children’s books. She is the illustrator of the Caldecott Honor book Bear Came Along as well as the Princess in Black series, Real Friends, the Freckleface Strawberry series, and many other books for young readers. She lives in San Francisco with her husband and two sons.
LeUyen Pham worked in animation before turning to children’s books. She is the illustrator of the Caldecott Honor book Bear Came Along as well as the Princess in Black series, Real Friends, the Freckleface Strawberry series, and many other books for young readers. She lives in San Francisco with her husband and two sons.
Other books by Adele Griffin
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