In this true story some may find familiar from morning television, Jack begins as an abandoned puppy, newly adopted by his human mother Jill (an entertainment correspondent/animal-rights reporter) and ready to learn how to fit in and play with his canine siblings. Told from Jack’s point of view and accompanied by Solomon’s home-style photos that positively illustrate his varying experiences, this story may serve as a teaching tool to help explain serious illness, in pets or humans: With the support of Jill and strong veterinary care, Jack successfully faces bone cancer, amputation and chemotherapy, yet remains an active, fun-loving and friendly dog, eventually named “Ambassadog of Hope for Animal Cancer.” (Jack has since passed away, an aspect of the story not included here.) Children will be able to identify with the main themes, such as adoption, illness, loss, survival and adjustment, and if the text is saccharine in its faux-doggy ingenuousness, it does end with an optimistic outlook designed to provide hope. Includes information on foundations that provide treatment for illness in companion animals. (Informational picture book. 6-10)
Pub Date: June 1, 2009
ISBN: 978-0-06-173136-5
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Collins
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2009
Rylant (Henry and Mudge and the Sneaky Crackers, 1998, etc.) slips into a sentimental mode for this latest outing of the boy and his dog, as she sends Mudge and Henry and his parents off on a camping trip. Each character is attended to, each personality sketched in a few brief words: Henry's mother is the camping veteran with outdoor savvy; Henry's father doesn't know a tent stake from a marshmallow fork, but he's got a guitar for campfire entertainment; and the principals are their usual ready-for-fun selves. There are sappy moments, e.g., after an evening of star- gazing, Rylant sends the family off to bed with: ``Everyone slept safe and sound and there were no bears, no scares. Just the clean smell of trees . . . and wonderful green dreams.'' With its nice tempo, the story is as toasty as its campfire and swaddled in Stevenson's trusty artwork. (Fiction. 6-8)
Pub Date: April 1, 1998
ISBN: 0-689-81175-6
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1998
Told from the point of view of two warring siblings, this could have been an engaging first chapter book. Unfortunately, the length makes it less likely to appeal to the intended audience. Jessie and Evan are usually good friends as well as sister and brother. But the news that bright Jessie will be skipping a grade to join Evan’s fourth-grade class creates tension. Evan believes himself to be less than clever; Jessie’s emotional maturity doesn’t quite measure up to her intelligence. Rivalry and misunderstandings grow as the two compete to earn the most money in the waning days of summer. The plot rolls along smoothly and readers will be able to both follow the action and feel superior to both main characters as their motivations and misconceptions are clearly displayed. Indeed, a bit more subtlety in characterization might have strengthened the book’s appeal. The final resolution is not entirely believable, but the emphasis on cooperation and understanding is clear. Earnest and potentially successful, but just misses the mark. (Fiction. 8-10)
Pub Date: April 23, 2007
ISBN: 0-618-75043-6
Page Count: 192
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2007
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