A well-plotted canine adventure that ably integrates social-emotional themes.
In this middle-grade, action-packed canine adventure, 2B and his shelter mate Maurice find adventure and companionship in their quest for forever homes.
2B, a mixed-breed canine, has resided at Best-ever Adoption Residence for Canines for most of his life. After his favorite owner and chef, Dragana, leaves behind 2B, he lives in three unique homes. First, he inhabits a well-manicured residence, which he ransacks to convey his loneliness. After the owners return him to BARC, Doreen and Dwayne adopt him. The couple plans on dolling him up, showing him at PoodlePalooza, and somehow cashing in. But when things go awry, they abandon him in the middle of nowhere. On his return to BARC, he and neighbor Maurice are adopted to serve as hunting dogs. But they’re brought back to the shelter when they find truffles instead of birds. Back at BARC again, the unthinkable happens: A mysterious explosion destroys the shelter. As 2B and Maurice stand by while Officer Stanley Mieczyslaw and Ginger Georges of Working Like a Dog, an organization that trains dogs for law enforcement, investigate, the dogs realize Ginger might need their services. So, the canines do what they can to impress Ginger, work for WLAD, and, ultimately, stay together. They land the gig, and while on their missions, they grasp the importance of teamwork and companionship. What they find is in the end, their noses serve them well, earning them the title of “24-Karat” dogs. Former educator and writer Neuschwander’s tale uses age-appropriate sensory details to engage young readers while educating students about dogs in a subtle, appealing manner. The plot development builds suspense as the dogs face various trials. Best of all, the story encourages connection and teamwork as the dogs rely on each other—with their individual strengths and weaknesses—to accomplish one goal. Although there are moments when some of the smaller quests are a bit slow to unfold, this is a fun novel reminiscent of Chris Grabenstein’s Dog Squad (2021).
A well-plotted canine adventure that ably integrates social-emotional themes.Pub Date: Aug. 18, 2023
ISBN: 9798218172794
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Chocolate Puddle Press
Review Posted Online: Sept. 8, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Renata’s wren encounter proves magical, one most children could only wish to experience outside of this lovely story.
A home-renovation project is interrupted by a family of wrens, allowing a young girl an up-close glimpse of nature.
Renata and her father enjoy working on upgrading their bathroom, installing a clawfoot bathtub, and cutting a space for a new window. One warm night, after Papi leaves the window space open, two wrens begin making a nest in the bathroom. Rather than seeing it as an unfortunate delay of their project, Renata and Papi decide to let the avian carpenters continue their work. Renata witnesses the birth of four chicks as their rosy eggs split open “like coats that are suddenly too small.” Renata finds at a crucial moment that she can help the chicks learn to fly, even with the bittersweet knowledge that it will only hasten their exits from her life. Rosen uses lively language and well-chosen details to move the story of the baby birds forward. The text suggests the strong bond built by this Afro-Latinx father and daughter with their ongoing project without needing to point it out explicitly, a light touch in a picture book full of delicate, well-drawn moments and precise wording. Garoche’s drawings are impressively detailed, from the nest’s many small bits to the developing first feathers on the chicks and the wall smudges and exposed wiring of the renovation. (This book was reviewed digitally with 10-by-20-inch double-page spreads viewed at actual size.)
Renata’s wren encounter proves magical, one most children could only wish to experience outside of this lovely story. (Picture book. 3-7)Pub Date: March 16, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-593-12320-1
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade/Random
Review Posted Online: Jan. 12, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2021
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