This witty story of friendship and dogged determination will appeal to young and adult readers alike.
A fun-loving pooch has a very tough first day at doggie daycare in Shepardson’s middle-grade chapter book.
If Hank had his way, he’d spend all day every day with his “favorite little human.” But Paisy is starting kindergarten, and she and “Hu-Mom” don’t want Hank to be home alone. So, the next day, his humans leave him at Canines Unleashed, a doggie daycare. As Hank tries to make friends, he quickly learns that some of his typical behavior, like jumping when excited, is a big no-no at this place, and that breaking the rules could land him in a special training class or even doggie jail. As if that weren’t bad enough, one of the daycare regulars, Fred, isn’t a Hank fan; he goes out of his way to get Hank in trouble or steal his food. It’s a whole new experience at daycare, getting used to different nap times and learning when not to howl; Hank just wants to make it through the day so he can go home to Paisy. Shepardson’s fetching tale shows the importance of pet training: Hank is a gentle, loving dog, but he doesn’t know or abide by certain commands, which can be a real problem out in public. Fred is an effective antagonist, and Luna the Portie makes a superb counterpart—a potential new friend who’s there to support and comfort Hank. The four-legged hero has a big heart; despite his bad day, he constantly thinks about Paisy and hopes that her first day at school is going better than his. The author loads the pages with waggish, canine-relevant wordplay, like “pawsome,” “fur-ever,” and things that are simply “BARK-TASTIC.” Kwong’s black-and-white artwork enlivens the text, highlighting Hank’s best moments playing with toys or being happily covered in suds.
This witty story of friendship and dogged determination will appeal to young and adult readers alike.Pub Date: Nov. 19, 2024
ISBN: 9798336923353
Page Count: 92
Publisher: Clear Fork Press
Review Posted Online: Dec. 12, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share.
In this latest in the series, Little Blue Truck, driven by pal Toad, is challenged to a countryside race by Racer Red, a sleek, low-slung vehicle.
Blue agrees, and the race is on. Although the two start off “hood to hood / and wheel to wheel,” they switch positions often as they speed their way over dusty country roads. Blue’s farm friends follow along to share in the excitement and shout out encouragement; adult readers will have fun voicing the various animal sounds. Short rhyming verses on each page and several strategic page turns add drama to the narrative, but soft, mottled effects in the otherwise colorful illustrations keep the competition from becoming too intense. Racer Red crosses the finish line first, but Blue is a gracious loser, happy to have worked hard. That’s a new concept for Racer Red, who’s laser-focused on victory but takes Blue’s words (“win or lose, it’s fun to try!”) to heart—a revelation that may lead to worthwhile storytime discussions. When Blue’s farm animal friends hop into the truck for the ride home, Racer Red tags along and learns a second lesson, one about speed. “Fast is fun, / and slow is too, / as long as you’re / with friends.”
A friendship tale with solid messaging and plenty of fun sounds to share. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: March 25, 2025
ISBN: 9780063387843
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Clarion/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Jan. 18, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2025
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