For preschoolers preparing to become dog owners, this tale offers a valuable introduction.
A young boy takes care of a new puppy in this debut illustrated children’s book.
Zade is one of several puppies born on a ranch. When Zade is 8 weeks old, he is adopted by pale-skinned Connor and his family, who live in a city. The city is very different from the ranch, and Zade must learn new rules in dealing with this human family. Zade also has to learn to behave around Connor’s diverse friends. But Connor helps his pals know the right signals to give Zade to become his friend and to keep him from jumping up. Connor also learns a lot about all the care that Zade needs and how even though the boy is a canine owner, he should “never approach a strange dog—that can be dangerous.” Eliason and Copeland, both canine trainers, introduce characters and concepts in simple language, focusing particularly on drawing connections between puppies’ feelings and kids’ emotions: “Puppies are just as nervous about changes as little children.” In this series opener, the authors acknowledge Zade’s feelings—that he will miss his parents—without making leaving the ranch seem traumatic since clearly the puppy loves his new family. Sections of the accessible text are broken down by topic, allowing young readers easy stopping points to pause and digest the information. Darley’s sweet illustrations of children are reminiscent of the style of the Precious Moments Company, and some of the pooches evoke Gustaf Tenggren’s classic Poky Little Puppy. A Utah artist, Darley gives the simple line and color paintings depth and action that capture the enthusiasm of a puppy. Some images show moments not explained in the text—a poodle is depicted by a doghouse, and pictures of Connor or Zade with balls are featured. But the dog training techniques Darley portrays, particularly the posture to keep a canine from jumping, are incredibly helpful.
For preschoolers preparing to become dog owners, this tale offers a valuable introduction.Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: FriesenPress
Review Posted Online: May 28, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 1, 2020
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Renata’s wren encounter proves magical, one most children could only wish to experience outside of this lovely story.
A home-renovation project is interrupted by a family of wrens, allowing a young girl an up-close glimpse of nature.
Renata and her father enjoy working on upgrading their bathroom, installing a clawfoot bathtub, and cutting a space for a new window. One warm night, after Papi leaves the window space open, two wrens begin making a nest in the bathroom. Rather than seeing it as an unfortunate delay of their project, Renata and Papi decide to let the avian carpenters continue their work. Renata witnesses the birth of four chicks as their rosy eggs split open “like coats that are suddenly too small.” Renata finds at a crucial moment that she can help the chicks learn to fly, even with the bittersweet knowledge that it will only hasten their exits from her life. Rosen uses lively language and well-chosen details to move the story of the baby birds forward. The text suggests the strong bond built by this Afro-Latinx father and daughter with their ongoing project without needing to point it out explicitly, a light touch in a picture book full of delicate, well-drawn moments and precise wording. Garoche’s drawings are impressively detailed, from the nest’s many small bits to the developing first feathers on the chicks and the wall smudges and exposed wiring of the renovation. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-20-inch double-page spreads viewed at actual size.)
Renata’s wren encounter proves magical, one most children could only wish to experience outside of this lovely story. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: March 16, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-593-12320-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade/Random
Review Posted Online: Jan. 12, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2021
A tale of intergenerational bonding to be shared by grandparents and grandchildren.
In talk-show host Fallon and illustrator Ordóñez’s latest picture-book collaboration, an elderly pooch waxes rhapsodic about a life well lived.
Observing Papa sitting in his chair watching TV all day, a young pup says, “I’m starting to think…you don’t do ANYTHING.” So Papa proceeds to list his accomplishments, both big and small, mundane and profound. Some are just a result of being older and physically bigger (being tall enough to reach a high shelf and strong enough to open jars); others include winning a race and performing in a band when he was younger. Eventually, the pup realizes that while Papa may have slowed down in his old age, he’s led a full life. The most satisfying thing about Papa’s life now? Watching his grandchild take center stage: “I can say lots of thoughts / but I choose to be quiet. / I’d rather you discover things and then try it.” Fallon’s straightforward text is sweetly upbeat, though it occasionally lacks flow, forcing incongruous situations together to fit the rhyme scheme (“I cook and I mow, / and I once flew a plane. // I play newspaper puzzles because it’s good for my brain”). Featuring uncluttered, colorful backgrounds, Ordóñez’s child-friendly digital art at times takes on sepia tones, evoking the sense of looking back at old photos or memories. Though the creators tread familiar ground, the love between Papa and his little one is palpable.
A tale of intergenerational bonding to be shared by grandparents and grandchildren. (Picture book. 3-6)Pub Date: May 13, 2025
ISBN: 9781250393975
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2025
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