the juggling pug

by sean bryan
illustrations by tom murphy

arcade publishing / new york

Do you all know the story of the juggling pug?

He
started
off
juggling
just
for
a
hug.

His town became famous, and folks grew quite smug.

“We’re the home of
THE
WORLD’S
ONLY
JUGGLING
PUG!

It’s okay if sometimes he poops on the rug.

He’s a giggling, wiggling, juggling pug!

We forgive him for giving our curtains a tug, and for smashing our plates and destroying our mugs

Well . . . that’s just how he is,” people said with a shrug,

“He’s a troublesome, worrisome, juggle-some pug.”

Then one day a girl stomped her foot and said,
“UUUGGGHHH!

I’ve had more than enough of this juggling pug.

My yard is a mess with the holes that he’s dug.

And every last one of my sodas is chugged.

(burp)

I don’t care if he’s famous,
I’m really bugged!
I say we get rid of that juggling pug.”

“No, wait, I can change!”
said the juggling pug.

“I won’t act like a jerk,
I won’t be such a lug.
I’ll just snuggle and juggle.
C’mon guys, let’s hug!”

So they did . . .
and the whole town made up with the juggling pug.

Walking home,
he stopped off to see his friend Doug.

Nobody was home, so he pooped on the rug!

To Julia Rusk, and all the jugglers we've known:
Monty, Coco, Chloe, and Mugsy — SB
For Ellis, Sadie Grey, and Van — TM

Text copyright © 2008 by Sean Bryan
Illustrations copyright © 2008 by Tom Murphy

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review.

FIRST EDITION

ISBN: 978-1-55970-874-6

Library of Congress Control Number: 2007035688

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication information is available.

Published in the United States by Arcade Publishing, Inc., New York

Distributed by Hachette Book Group USA

Visit our Web site at www.arcadepub.com

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Designed by Tom Murphy

IMAGO

Printed in China