More than 35 years after Hotel for Dogs (1971) (and coincident to the release of the film), the Walker children return for serious dog drama. Bruce is unable to purchase his pooch until he agrees to sell a local newspaper for dog-lovers, complete with poetry, recipes and the latest gossip. (His sister Andi’s melodramatic contributions provide humor throughout: “Just five sweet, cuddly balls of fuzz, / But, oh, how hard the parting was!”) While initially popular, the paper fails when investigative reporting spotlights a hurried pet owner and his absent pooper-scooper. Concerns intensify when a dognapper begins to steal pets, and the children devise a plan to catch the culprit. While the earnest dialogue is occasionally stifling, the siblings’ relationship is genuinely portrayed. There are more outlandish moments than in the original book, with Aunt Alice’s wit and ingenuity propelling the action. The predictable plot will leave mystery fans unsatisfied, but readers seeking wholesome fare will appreciate the resourceful characters. At bottom, it is the dogs, from loyal Red Rover to pampered Bully Bernstein, who should win best in show. (Fiction. 8-11)
Pub Date: April 1, 2009
ISBN: 978-0-545-10853-9
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2009
A weak story that has echoes of familiar folktales, but no resonance. A selfish crocodile who lived “deep in the forest” commands all the other animals to stay away from the river, which he considers his. “I’ll eat you up!” he warns. The animals have to walk “for miles out of their way” to find drinking water. One day the crocodile has a toothache, and when the others are too frightened to get close, a mouse pulls the tooth and promises to help him in the future. Consequently, the crocodile invites all the creatures to enjoy the river, although the connection between having a friend and declaring open house is left vague. The illustrations have a greeting-card charm, with 13 animals trudging off for water bearing the same pop-eyed, frowning expression. When the crocodile groans in pain, the animals don’t look toward the source of sound, but up in the air at the words “GROAN . . . GROAN.” (Picture book. 3-7)
Pub Date: Feb. 1, 1999
ISBN: 1-888444-56-8
Page Count: 28
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 1999
BOOK REVIEW
PLB 0-688-15542-1 My Day In The Garden ($16.00; PLB $15.93; Apr.; 24 pp.; 0-688-15541-3; PLB 0-688-15542-1): The creative heroines in this gentle story of easy companionship show that rainy days can be full of fun. “Berry-picking with the birds./Lunch with the ladybugs./Under a tree for a nap,” are among the scenes; with the aid of costumes and the girls’ imaginations, the foursome create their own party, dressing up as butterflies, ladybugs, crickets, even worms. They eat, wriggle, sing, and play hide-and-seek. As darkness falls, the girls disband, and one child is seen asleep, with more dreams of the garden dancing in her head. Lobel’s idyllic illustrations are as lovely as a sunny summer afternoon, while the lyrical text demonstrates inventive simplicity. Charming. (Picture book. 3-6)
Pub Date: April 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-688-15541-3
Page Count: 24
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 1999
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