For Penny and Rio: The Mysterious Backyard Meeting

Penny & Rio: The Mysterious Backyard Meeting is a softcover children’s book featuring two canine friends who are diametric opposites. Penny is curious and adventurous, while her sister Rio likes to sleep most of the day. When Penny discovers that a cat, a groundhog, a squirrel, and an owl are using her backyard as a meeting place, she is determined to learn more about what is going on – while Rio is convinced that sleep is young people who are almost ready to graduate to chapter books, and an important underlying theme – that one should be responsible for one’s current pets and not abandon them to the city pound for a new pet – is also present in the cat’s tale. Highly recommended, especially for young dog lovers.
Midwest Book Review, May 2008

Go on this first adventure with Penny and Rio. This charming story will become a favorite to any child, especially those with pets. With wonderfully illustrated pictures of the duo’s adventure, it is a great book to encourage reading. Children will enjoy following this mystery as the two dogs discover the true reason for the meeting. Dove awards the Dove “Family-Approved” Seal for all ages to this wonderful book.                                                                                                                                                                                                                             The Dove Foundation, March 2009

I like this book a great deal, it has been well crafted, and I think that parents will appreciate the care that has gone into its creation. From what I gather this is the foundation book for an entire series about Penny and Rio, I do hope that I have the opportunity to read the next installment. Great work Jennifer Swanson.                                                
Simon Barrett, Bloggernews.net,  April 2009

Lol! This is a great book. Penny steals the show and Rio is the winning ’straight man.’ Not just a book about dogs with human characteristics – not at all. You can honestly tell these two dogs (real characters at that) really did behave this way and the story hooks you right in with both dogs’ unique characterizations. We are a pet family here and I know my son is going to love, love, love this because our pets have such endearing personalities, too. We can relate! Great job.This book is geared for readers aged 9-12, but younger listeners will love having Penny & Rio’s adventures read to them as well.                                                                                           
Lisa Barker, Jelly Mom Review, July 2009

If your children love pets then they will love Penny & Rio. These two dogs are very funny. This story gives kids a pets point of view as to what makes them bark and take a lot of naps. This 5 chapter book is an enjoyable quick read.                                                           Kristi Bernard, The National Writing Center for Children, Jan 2010

 

For Penny and Rio: The Locked Doghouse Mystery

“Penny and Rio, the lovable sibling sleuths are off on a backyard adventure with a new friend, Hobbes, the great Dane, to solve a mystery for the anxious mouse, Squeaky, who implores the dogs to retrieve an important treasure before it’s too late. Figuring out how to get to the treasure is not easy, especially with the sister dogs snapping insults at each other. What is the treasure? No one but Squeaky knows, and he’s not telling. By lending the worried mouse their helping paws, Penny and Rio discover that Squeaky’s important treasure is something that’s just as important to them. In this heartwarming tale, Swanson creates an entertaining plot with a well-developed cast of characters for independent readers, both boys and girls, who love mystery, adventure, and hanging out with friends.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Clara Gillow Clark, author of  Secrets of Greymoor Candlewick Press

“Penny and Rio find themselves paw deep in their latest mystery when Hobbes, a huge Great Dane and new next door neighbor seeks them out for their expert detective skills…Up against an impossible deadline of less than a day, the cleverness of each is put to the test while on the case of finding the lost key. Will they make it in time?  Ms. Swanson brings to life the adventures of Penny and Rio with such humanistic characteristics the reader forgets they are on a journey with animals. Children will certainly enjoy reading about the detective skills of such ingenious dogs.”                                                                                                                                                  
Donna McDine, Write What Inspires You  Book Reviews

Penny & Rio – The Locked Doghouse Mystery is very much a book about family values. It is sometimes a real challenge to teach youngsters complex concepts, but Jennifer Swanson certainly seems to have the skills. This second book confirms my theory that this author has a very illustrious career ahead of her. Many people think of children’s books as being easy to write, that is a fallacy, children’s books are notoriously difficult to do well. On a technical note, the book is printed in a nice friendly font, I am guessing Ariel and the point size is ideal for the beginning reader. This is a book that young people will get hours of enjoyment from, and parents will appreciate the educational value.  
Simon Barret, Bloggernews.net,  Sep 2009

Check out this review and sign up to win a free autographed copy of Penny and Rio: The Locked Doghouse Mystery   Here              “The Locked Doghouse Mystery was very easy to understand and was full of exciting adventures. I was even excited about finding out what would happen next. The overall story is fun, entertaining, and teaches the importance of family history to your little one.”     Thearmywife.com,  Oct 2009 

 ”Penny & Rio: The Locked Doghouse Mystery” is a sequel to “Penny & Rio: The Mysterious Backyard Meeting,” 2009 Mom’s Choice Award winner and 2008 Royal Palm Literary Award winner. Penny and Rio are crime-fighting pair of doggy detectives, and they must solve the case of the Locked Doghouse Mystery. They are trying to help Squeaky the mouse who has belongings locked in the doghouse next door. Squeaky is afraid to get his things because Hobbes, a Great Dane, lives in the yard and may object to her passing freely through. Penny and io find that as usual, it takes lots of thinking and teamwork to solve problems and mysteries and help clients, but that is what they do best of all. “Penny & Rio” is colorfully illustrated and written in brief chapters that keep interest high and pages turning. “Penny & Rio” should appeal to children age 8 and up.   Midwest Book Review, November 2009

 Penny and Rio are at it again. Well, mostly Penny. The Locked Doghouse Mystery is another 5 chapter adventure. This time Squeaky the mouse has lost something very important to him. It was left in a doghouse that has been locked. How will he get in to retrieve his precious treasure? If your children love pets then they will love Penny & Rio.                                                                            Kristi Bernard, The National Writing Center for Children, Jan 2010