A good message excellently illustrated.
A puppy named Max explains how he’s being trained as a service dog in this children’s picture book.
Unlike most puppies, Max, who appears to be a golden retriever, has plans: he’s going to become a service dog. Such dogs can “open doors, turn on lights, and even take off someone’s shoes,” Max explains. Max’s puppy raiser and best friend is Sam, a redheaded white boy. Sam teaches Max the basics of behavior, plays with him, bathes him, and takes him for walks in his special yellow vest. Max can meet other dogs and people while practicing staying focused among many distractions. Once a week they go to puppy kindergarten, where Max learns simple commands like “visit.” Also, Max enjoys the privileges of service dogs, like getting to go on the bus, into the library, or even to the movies. Though Max knows he’ll miss Sam when it’s time for him to leave, he can’t wait to start helping someone who needs him because “that’s just like being a HERO!” Numeroff (If You Give a Mouse a Brownie, 2016, etc.) gives children a good introduction to the concept of service dogs, explaining why these animals are necessary and the kinds of help they provide. Another plus is that by focusing on a puppy who’s still learning but has goals, kids can identify with Max and the pride involved in mastering skills. The appealing, softly colored illustrations nicely capture the affection between boy and dog.
A good message excellently illustrated.Pub Date: Nov. 21, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-9965518-1-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Cleverkick
Review Posted Online: Sept. 7, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2017
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Broccoli: No way is James going to eat broccoli. “It’s disgusting,” says James. Well then, James, says his father, let’s consider the alternatives: some wormy dirt, perhaps, some stinky socks, some pre-chewed gum? James reconsiders the broccoli, but—milk? “Blech,” says James. Right, says his father, who needs strong bones? You’ll be great at hide-and-seek, though not so great at baseball and kickball and even tickling the dog’s belly. James takes a mouthful. So it goes through lumpy oatmeal, mushroom lasagna and slimy eggs, with James’ father parrying his son’s every picky thrust. And it is fun, because the father’s retorts are so outlandish: the lasagna-making troll in the basement who will be sent back to the rat circus, there to endure the rodent’s vicious bites; the uneaten oatmeal that will grow and grow and probably devour the dog that the boy won’t be able to tickle any longer since his bones are so rubbery. Schneider’s watercolors catch the mood of gentle ribbing, the looks of bewilderment and surrender and the deadpanned malarkey. It all makes James’ father’s last urging—“I was just going to say that you might like them if you tried them”—wholly fresh and unexpected advice. (Early reader. 5-9)
Pub Date: May 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-547-14956-1
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Clarion Books
Review Posted Online: April 4, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2011
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift.
A paean to teachers and their surrogates everywhere.
This gentle ode to a teacher’s skill at inspiring, encouraging, and being a role model is spoken, presumably, from a child’s viewpoint. However, the voice could equally be that of an adult, because who can’t look back upon teachers or other early mentors who gave of themselves and offered their pupils so much? Indeed, some of the self-aware, self-assured expressions herein seem perhaps more realistic as uttered from one who’s already grown. Alternatively, readers won’t fail to note that this small book, illustrated with gentle soy-ink drawings and featuring an adult-child bear duo engaged in various sedentary and lively pursuits, could just as easily be about human parent- (or grandparent-) child pairs: some of the softly colored illustrations depict scenarios that are more likely to occur within a home and/or other family-oriented setting. Makes sense: aren’t parents and other close family members children’s first teachers? This duality suggests that the book might be best shared one-on-one between a nostalgic adult and a child who’s developed some self-confidence, having learned a thing or two from a parent, grandparent, older relative, or classroom instructor.
A sweet, soft conversation starter and a charming gift. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-943200-08-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Compendium
Review Posted Online: Dec. 13, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2017
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