BEHIND THE SECRET GARDEN DOOR
by Sandie Leigh ; illustrated by Sandie Leigh
In this debut picture book, a dog makes friends while exploring a hole in the garden.
Teddy MacDougal, a small white Westie, loves to investigate outdoors—or, as he calls it, “inWESTIEgate.” He’s surprised one day to hear a strange “Yow-wow-wow-wow!” sound in the backyard and discovers a huge hole that’s been dug underneath the door to his secret garden. As he pokes around, he makes some new animal friends. They tell him that the hole-digger is the Red Fox of Kennelworth, who “is not kind to the likes of most.” Sure enough, the fox threatens Teddy when they meet, but the pooch returns to the safety of his home thanks to the miraculous intervention of a lightning storm. Leigh’s story has a well-judged blend of amusement and a little spice of danger, as when the dog introduces himself to the fox: “It is I, a small but not so tasty Teddy the Westie.” The tale also nicely displays Teddy’s typically Westie personality, adventurous and friendly. The author’s playful illustrations have verve but are somewhat inconsistent. Vegetation is rendered realistically, as is Teddy, but other animals have exaggerated cartoon features.
An enjoyable escapade, especially pleasing for canine lovers.