November 9, 2009: Truth (I'm a good dog!) vs. Fiction (I could be wicked enough to be in a Pet Trouble book! I swear!)

Hi, Sunshine!
I was wondering, how old are you? And also, it would be great if you are in one of Tui's Pet Trouble books! I would love to read that particular book!
Cheers,
Ashley

Hello,
Would you please tell me if Mud-Puddle Poodle is a "reality fiction". My daughter has to read something in that category and I wasn't sure if this is a true story or fiction. Thank you!
Gina

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Hi Ashley and Gina!

Ashley, I am five years old right now -- but my birthday is January 1, so I'll be six in less than two months!  Whee!  Tui better start planning the party now!  :-)  And I will definitely tell Tui you think I should have my own book, because I THINK SO TOO!  :-)  I'm considering stirring up some mischief just to show her I can be as naughty as any of those Pet Trouble dogs.  There are a lot of suspicious new toys (which apparently aren't for me!  WHAT is THAT all about?!), books, and teeny tiny clothes around here that I could steal and hide under the bed.  Mwa ha ha!  That'll show her!

The closest we've come to me starring in a book is in Mud-Puddle Poodle, where Buttons is a bit like me (and a lot like Maui, according to my grandpaw!). 

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Who, me?  What?  I didn't do it!  Whatever it is!  I swear!  These socks just came out of nowhere!  I had nothing to do with it!  Extremely innocent face! 

But the book wouldn't count as a true story, Gina, since Rosie and her family are all made up.  "Reality fiction," though...what does that mean?  It sounds like an oxymoron (look at me with the fancy English words!), which, as Parker says in book one, "means a phrase where the two words sound like opposites, like “serious fun” or “jumbo shrimp” or “delicious zucchini.”"  (Or, I would add, "bad dog" -- as if there's any such thing!)  ;-) 

So what's reality fiction, then?  Even Google isn't helping me; half the responses I'm getting when I search for "reality fiction" say: "The difference between fiction and reality?  Fiction has to make sense."  Hee!  I like that!

Well, if it just means fictional stories set in the real world, then I'd guess Pet Trouble does count, because it's all about kids in fifth and sixth grade plus lots and lots of dogs.  The books don't have anything like vampires or dragons or magic...you'll have to go to Tui's other books (Never Bite a Boy on the First Date, Avatars, Seekers) for that kind of thing!

Hope that helps!

Happy tails,
Sunshine!  :-)