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SCOOTER IN THE OUTSIDE by Anne Bowen

SCOOTER IN THE OUTSIDE

by Anne Bowen & illustrated by Abby Carter

Pub Date: March 1st, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-8234-2326-2
Publisher: Holiday House

A bouncy golden retriever named Scooter escapes his suburban home for a solo adventure in this amusing tale full of comical canine conversations.

Scooter enjoys a close relationship with his owner, a little girl named Lucy. She walks Scooter regularly in their suburban neighborhood, but he longs to see the larger world past the corner of their street. When Lucy leaves the door open, Scooter scoots out to explore, finding unfamiliar territory a scary place with loud fire engines and garbage trucks. Lucy finds Scooter and leads him home to his safe and secure world with his favorite green dog bed. The brisk and cheerful text is full of sound effects spelled out in capital letters, such as Scooter’s sloppy kisses, his tail thumping against the floor or the loud siren noises. Scooters varied canine vocalizations are followed by translations in English to convey the dog’s exuberant emotions and innocent intentions. His winning personality is captured in loose watercolor-and-pencil illustrations in a pleasant palette of soft greens and golds.

Scooter will win over any fans of big, friendly dogs, especially when his woofs, arfs and barks are rendered by a suitably enthusiastic reader.

(Picture book. 3-6)