Rocket Puppies - by William Joyce (Hardcover)

About the Book

In a world overcome by sadness, the arrival of Rocket Puppies from the outer reaches of Not-from-Here brings joy and laughter, but the puppies must face off against Snarly McBummerpants and stop him from spreading gloom with Mopey Smoke.

Book Synopsis

From the bestselling creator of The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore comes "a 'fetching' tale from the reigning master of retro-themed whimsy" (School Library Journal, starred review) about puppies too adorable to resist who battle the heavy case of the blues spreading across the world.

Once upon a should-have-been-happy time, the earth is feeling sort of sad. From people to bugs and birds to forks, smiles have disappeared, and bad moods reign supreme. Then, from the outer reaches of Not-from-Here, come the Rocket Puppies! These impossibly cute canines hiccup bubbles that play songs, stop bees from stinging, and keep recesses rain-free.

Slowly but surely, everyone's frowns turn upside down. But not everyone wants to be cheerful. Snarly McBummerpants is determined to glom onto gloom. When he billows out Mopey Smoke, can the Rocket Puppies rally to defeat this new foe?

Review Quotes

Mid-century aesthetics, dreamlike storytelling, and meticulous craft combine to create a peculiar tale of good versus evil. [...] A brisk rhythm keeps the purposely nonsensical plot moving, yet lingering on or returning to each illustration greatly develops the overall narrative. Joyce's inclusion of numerous breeds of dogs, individualized jetpacks for each Rocket Puppy, and fairly obscure (for young readers) pop-culture references (e.g., Laurel and Hardy) provide much to appreciate and discover. A puppy-powered romp.--Horn Book "January/February 2025 Issue"

"In the hands of William Joyce (The Man in the Moon; The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore), over-the-top cuteness becomes a picture-book vehicle for comfort and humor, both of which reach stratospheric heights in Rocket Puppies."--Shelf Awareness
*STARRED REVIEW* "12/27/2024"

"With his signature retro flair and his tongue firmly in cheek, Joyce has crafted a parable for our times, whose optimistic silliness should prove as potent a pick-me-up as a puppy's nose-lick." --Publishers Weekly "9/2/2024"

"[A]n absolute tonic, filled with enough joy to melt even the unhappiest hearts. The silly yet sophisticated illustrations have a dreamy retro quality that will delight both young readers and their grown-ups. Prescribe this puppy-packed picture book as an ideal antidote to a bad mood." --Booklist "11/1/2024"

"Powered by whimsy and nostalgia, a doggone adorable tale of superheroes transforming the world for the better."--Kirkus Reviews "9/1/2024"

About the Author

William Joyce does a lot of stuff but children's books are his true bailiwick (The Guardians series, Dinosaur Bob series, George Shrinks, and the #1 New York Times bestselling The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore, which is also his Academy Award-winning short film, to name a few). He lives in Shreveport, Louisiana. Talk to William Joyce and see upcoming work on Instagram @HeyBillJoyce.