DINGO TOAD JOINS THE RANGERS

Two toad pals find the best way to share a hobby together in Lamar Golden and Liana Golden’s picture-book series entry.

Dingo Toad and Penny are best friends who spend all their time together. When they turn 7, they decide that their next adventure will be to join a scout troop so they can indulge their love of nature. However, there’s no local Girl Scouts troop that Penny can join, and Dingo isn’t comfortable enlisting in the Boy Scouts without her. Instead, Dingo finds a third option called the Rangers, a diverse group that allows boys and girls, and includes fantasy creatures. The two friends learn about the Ranger motto, how to earn badges, and embark on their first-ever camping trip. Afterward, Penny is grateful to Dingo for finding an activity they could pursue together: “I would never do anything without you,” says her friend. In this return to the Dingo Toad series, the authors revisit a pair of characters who exemplify how friends can take care of each other. The narrative feels more like a summary of events, rather than a detailed story, but it presents a clear message about not settling for something unsatisfactory. McGrath’s brightly colored world of vividly illustrated characters shows that some lessons are universal for all creatures.

A meaningful tale about the importance of inclusion.