Dory Fantasmagory: Can't Live Without You

 Dory Fantasmagory: Can’t Live Without You

The very first book with main character Dory Fantasmagory (of the same title) was a PA Young Reader’s Choice nominee so I’ve been a fan from the start. Upon this reading, I felt like I could identify a friend’s daughter who might relate well to Dory and suggested the title to her as well. The intro and early chapters of “Can’t Live Without You” made me laugh out loud. Some examples:

Crossing Guard: I love your purse.

Dory: Thanks! I hate it.

And the contents of said purse created a…memorable…odor.

We actually had a similar circumstance with a class yesterday. 

A class was walked to the library and the teacher shared that all day long, the students had been complaining of a smell. And she also shared that it had been an eventful day in the hall, very similar to Dory’s classmate - George, who told the school nurse “Don’t worry about me. I throw up all the time.” So as not to alarm others about the contents of Dory’s purse. Back to the real life story - while the classroom teacher hadn’t been able to identify the mystery smell and thought the students were making it up, as I handed out library cards one at a time to students, I was able to pinpoint the mystery smell a bit better and requested that a student take their shoes to the hall. 

All that to say, this book’s plot and characters rang true to me and Dory’s (or Rainbow’s) fantastic imagination seems boundless. I hope that Abby Hanlon continues to create fantasmic content for future generations of readers yet to come!

Title: Dory Fantasmagory: Can’t Live Without You

Author: Abby Hanlon

ISBN: 978-0-593-61598-0

Published 2023 by Dial Books for Young Readers

This copy was borrowed from the public library for review purposes.