An endearing collection of pet stories for all ages.
A writer chronicles the important pets in her life in this chapter book.
Each chapter of this work focuses on one of Smith-Davis’ pets. In the first one, the author recounts her bond with her childhood dog, Welsh terrier Thorie. Next, she recalls when she and her cockapoo, Whisky, who “assumes the position in the co-pilot seat,” went for a drive and made a friend. Next, Smith-Davis’ “mixed breed cockapoo-schnauzer,” Scrapper, chewed the Velcro strap off her husband Roger’s tennis shoe. But the man “can’t stay mad looking at” the dog’s “silly face and guilty look.” The author recounts when her cat Thomas carried a “huge 20-pound wooden basket laden with food, across the floor and up the stairs...crackers and popcorn trail behind like bread crumbs.” Next, she describes how her gentle pup Buddy, a Cavalier King Charles spaniel, received medication for his heart problem. The next chapter concentrates on Smith-Davis’ white and black cat, Blake, who itched to “get outside to chase small creatures.” Lastly, the author introduces readers to rowdy terrier Rascal, who served as the clan’s “assistant pack leader” and was “constantly looking to move up” and usurp the humans. Short chapters at the end detail outdoor critters in Smith-Davis’ life, such as Rockie Raccoon, who “loves to come up to the back-porch door and beg for food,” and Mr. Squirrel, who narrowly escaped Rascal’s rivalry. Animal lovers will appreciate the sweet, simple stories here. The author is undoubtedly a devoted and practiced pet owner. Her adoration for her furry friends is palpable, and her ability to derive joy from their antics will be relatable to readers with pets of their own. In addition, the book emphasizes having respect and kindness for adopted animals, serving as superb reminders for readers. Also included are family photographs featuring the cats and dogs, such as a picture labeled “Rascal doing DownDog yoga.” Iliff’s drawings offer appealing, colorful portrayals of the animals. Simple but effective, the illustrations depict the tales’ scenes, including when the dogs chased the yard’s critters.
An endearing collection of pet stories for all ages.Pub Date: March 5, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-64-990779-0
Page Count: 44
Publisher: Palmetto Publishing
Review Posted Online: June 8, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
This outing lacks the sophistication of such category standards as Clementine; here’s hoping English amps things up for...
A gentle voice and familiar pitfalls characterize this tale of a boy navigating the risky road to responsibility.
Gavin is new to his neighborhood and Carver Elementary. He likes his new friend, Richard, and has a typically contentious relationship with his older sister, Danielle. When Gavin’s desire to impress Richard sets off a disastrous chain of events, the boy struggles to evade responsibility for his actions. “After all, it isn’t his fault that Danielle’s snow globe got broken. Sure, he shouldn’t have been in her room—but then, she shouldn’t be keeping candy in her room to tempt him. Anybody would be tempted. Anybody!” opines Gavin once he learns the punishment for his crime. While Gavin has a charming Everyboy quality, and his aversion to Aunt Myrtle’s yapping little dog rings true, little about Gavin distinguishes him from other trouble-prone protagonists. He is, regrettably, forgettable. Coretta Scott King Honor winner English (Francie, 1999) is a teacher whose storytelling usually benefits from her day job. Unfortunately, the pizzazz of classroom chaos is largely absent from this series opener.
This outing lacks the sophistication of such category standards as Clementine; here’s hoping English amps things up for subsequent volumes. (Fiction. 6-9)Pub Date: Dec. 17, 2013
ISBN: 978-0-547-97044-8
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: Oct. 1, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Hugely entertaining, timely, and triumphant.
Robot Roz undertakes an unusual ocean journey to save her adopted island home in this third series entry.
When a poison tide flowing across the ocean threatens their island, Roz works with the resident creatures to ensure that they will have clean water, but the destruction of vegetation and crowding of habitats jeopardize everyone’s survival. Brown’s tale of environmental depredation and turmoil is by turns poignant, graceful, endearing, and inspiring, with his (mostly) gentle robot protagonist at its heart. Though Roz is different from the creatures she lives with or encounters—including her son, Brightbill the goose, and his new mate, Glimmerwing—she makes connections through her versatile communication abilities and her desire to understand and help others. When Roz accidentally discovers that the replacement body given to her by Dr. Molovo is waterproof, she sets out to seek help and discovers the human-engineered source of the toxic tide. Brown’s rich descriptions of undersea landscapes, entertaining conversations between Roz and wild creatures, and concise yet powerful explanations of the effect of the poison tide on the ecology of the island are superb. Simple, spare illustrations offer just enough glimpses of Roz and her surroundings to spark the imagination. The climactic confrontation pits oceangoing mammals, seabirds, fish, and even zooplankton against hardware and technology in a nicely choreographed battle. But it is Roz’s heroism and peacemaking that save the day.
Hugely entertaining, timely, and triumphant. (author’s note) (Fiction. 8-12)Pub Date: Sept. 26, 2023
ISBN: 9780316669412
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Little, Brown
Review Posted Online: Aug. 26, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 2023
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