by Tom Mitchell ; Emanuel Pretonari ‧ RELEASE DATE: N/A
An accessible and engaging dog training guidebook that teaches kids about responsible pet ownership.
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Mitchell offers a comprehensive, illustrated guide to dog training for children.
Written from the perspective of Roxy, the author’s Belgian Malinois, this manual takes kids through the many different aspects of dog ownership—including the basics of training pets in very brief blocks of time, how to speak to them, how to approach potty training, and much more. Mitchell, a professional dog trainer, tells readers all about the different “superpowers” dogs have, including having super-strong hearing and being “a good protector.” This framework is an engaging way for kids to think about their pets and learn more about their abilities. Roxy’s voice is fun and accessible and will entertain children by giving them a chance to interact with a dog talking to them in the first person. The “1 Minute Dog Training” method also adapts well to kids—they can get involved with training their pets and build good habits, even with short attention spans. The training methods focus on positive reinforcement and highlight the importance of treating dogs with respect and kindness—an important thing for children to learn. Additionally, included QR codes link to related videos with training demonstrations and tips, adding a helpful tool for kids who are more interactive learners (with caregivers’ permission). Pretonari’s colorful, cute full-color cartoon illustrations of a variety of dogs throughout underline the concepts shared in each chapter, enhancing the reading experience and providing additional context. The book also includes background information about how dogs are descended from wolves and lived alongside people to become humans’ “best friends,” which adds another educational layer. With an emphasis on patience and understanding, this manual communicates important lessons that children may apply to other parts of their lives.
An accessible and engaging dog training guidebook that teaches kids about responsible pet ownership.Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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by Andrew Knapp ; illustrated by Andrew Knapp ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 6, 2024
A well-meaning but lackluster tribute.
Readers bid farewell to a beloved canine character.
Momo is—or was—an adorable and very photogenic border collie owned by author Knapp. The many readers who loved him in the previous half-dozen books are in for a shock with this one. “Momo had died” is the stark reality—and there are no photographs of him here. Instead, Momo has been replaced by a flat cartoonish pastiche with strange, staring round white eyes, inserted into some of Knapp’s photography (which remains appealing, insofar as it can be discerned under the mixed media). Previous books contained few or no words. Unfortunately, virtuosity behind a lens does not guarantee mastery of verse. The art here is accompanied by words that sometimes rhyme but never find a workable or predictable rhythm (“We’d fetch and we’d catch, / we’d run and we’d jump. Every day we found new / games to play”). It’s a pity, because the subject—a pet’s death—is an important one to address with children. Of course, Momo isn’t gone; he can still be found “everywhere” in memories. But alas, he can be found here only in the crude depictions of the darling dog so well known from the earlier books.
A well-meaning but lackluster tribute. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9781683693864
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Quirk Books
Review Posted Online: Nov. 4, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2023
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by Andrew Knapp ; photographed by Andrew Knapp
by Sandra Markle ; illustrated by Howard McWilliam ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 7, 2024
Another playful imagination-stretcher.
Markle invites children to picture themselves living in the homes of 11 wild animals.
As in previous entries in the series, McWilliam’s illustrations of a diverse cast of young people fancifully imitating wild creatures are paired with close-up photos of each animal in a like natural setting. The left side of one spread includes a photo of a black bear nestling in a cozy winter den, while the right side features an image of a human one cuddled up with a bear. On another spread, opposite a photo of honeybees tending to newly hatched offspring, a human “larva” lounges at ease in a honeycomb cell, game controller in hand, as insect attendants dish up goodies. A child with an eye patch reclines on an orb weaver spider’s web, while another wearing a head scarf constructs a castle in a subterranean chamber with help from mound-building termites. Markle adds simple remarks about each type of den, nest, or burrow and basic facts about its typical residents, then closes with a reassuring reminder to readers that they don’t have to live as animals do, because they will “always live where people live.” A select gallery of traditional homes, from igloo and yurt to mudhif, follows a final view of the young cast waving from a variety of differently styled windows.
Another playful imagination-stretcher. (Informational picture book. 6-8)Pub Date: May 7, 2024
ISBN: 9781339049052
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Feb. 3, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2024
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by Sandra Markle ; illustrated by Vanessa Morales
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