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It's no secret that pugs are some of the most popular dogs. Dog lovers find them adorable with big personalities, just like Servello's character, Petey. Petey escapes his home, which is next to a golf course, and the narrative follows his adventures. Petey is looking for other dogs to play with. He ends up traveling around the golf course and is then taken in by Ty until his family finds him. Servello's dedication reveals that her son inspired the story, and that a lost pug really did show up at the golf course. This is a charming book that children who love animals, especially pugs, will enjoy reading. The lesson for readers is that family is important, and while the grass may look "fun" elsewhere, getting lost will make family members sad. This simple but poignant truth comes across clearly in the tale.
Servello's writing is easy for elementary-aged kids to read and understand. The illustrations are well done, and adding text over them makes it even more engaging. This is a well-rounded picture book. Petey is written with a lot of charisma, and how he is drawn expertly conveys this. His attitude and emotions leap right off the pages. Everyone else is a background character to Petey, but that's not a bad thing. It's from Petey's point of view, so he does take over. Servello does a good job of creating this world for Petey to roam in. This is a funny, short, heartwarming tale that pug lovers and owners will find charming. Servello does a good job at creating a children's book that speaks to everyone.