LUCKY DOG: TWELVE TALES OF RESCUED DOGS is just the kind of book you need to read if you love dogs and you want a heart-lifting reading moment. The twelve short stories are written by different authors with all the stories sharing the same setting, Pauley Rescue Center, and some of the same characters: Mr. Cole, manager of the center; Dr. Mehta, vet; Nora Clark, receptionist. Some of the stories even share some of the same dogs. These three elements provide a binding cord among stories and promote a better reading experience for younger readers.
The stories are written from many different viewpoints—including the dogs themselves. There is no mistaking the voice of Foxtrot, the hyper Pomeranian, or Buddy, the Boston terrier, who loves a little girl who is afraid of him. The tales vary in their conflicts so each is fresh and interesting. The reader will enjoy how the dogs impact traditional families, kids with divorced parents, foster parents, and single moms.
Although there are twelve tales, the main theme remains constant throughout, i.e. rescue dogs are as wonderful and unique as their human owners. The formatting of the book is designed for young readers because the print is large and each story runs about 15 pages long. Each story has the added bonus of a short paragraph about the author. Not surprisingly, many of the authors own dogs.
Young boys and girls alike will enjoy this book especially if they have or want to have a dog in their lives. They will learn about different dog breeds and that dogs do indeed pick their humans–as this reviewer well knows after being gifted a border collie who promptly adopted not me, but my father as his human. This book would be a great read aloud for parents because it lends itself to one story a night, the pacing is never slow, and every story is entertaining with a different twist.
This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by Scholastic Press (A Scholastic Imprint)
Content Analysis:
Profanity: None
Violence/Gore: None
Sex/Nudity: None
Mature Subject Matter:
None
Alcohol / Drug Use:
None
