Teddy the Dog: Be Your Own Dog

Reviewed by: Carla McAlliste - New Gloucester Public Library., New Gloucester, Maine, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: January 27, 2017

Review

Teddy is one cool dog and he knows it. He refuses to fetch, he makes messes and is noisy when he thinks he is helping out neighbors, but he thinks he is all that and a side of fries. One day he receives a box in the mail with no return address and inside is a feline with a pink bow in her hair and a bejeweled collar. Whatever will he do? He has been tasked with taking care of Penelope and that is a tall order, especially as Teddy has always been quite content and busy taking care of himself. It is a CATastrophe of gargantuan proportions. After some adjustment, he finally realizes that since he has always advised one and all to "be your own dog" maybe that applies to "being your own cat!" He takes Penelope under his proverbial wing and shows her how to get along in "Teddyville." With big, beautiful and really cool illustrations, this book will fit the bill for the picture book set, especially those that adore dogs and cats. The lesson here is that we are each different and should revel in being ourselves and embracing our individuality and unique qualities.

Overall Book Score: very good

About the Book

Author:

Boyle, Keri Claiborne

Illustrator: Sneider, Jonathon

Illustration Quality: very good

Publisher: Harper/HarperCollinsPublishers

Book Type: picture book fiction

Genre:

Audience: preschool

Binding Type: trade edition

Binding Quality: good

ISBN: 9780062382832

Price: 17.99

A Piece of Home

A Piece of Home

Reviewed by: Carla McAlliste - New Gloucester Public Library., New Gloucester, Maine, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: January 27, 2017

Review

In Korea, Hee Jun is just like everyone else, just another little Korean boy, but when his family relocates to West Virginia, everything changes. He and his little sister, Se Ra, and his beloved Grandmother all have difficulties adjusting. Hee Jun cannot understand his teacher or schoolmates, Se Ra bites and kicks and Grandmother hangs her head, loses the sparkle in her eyes, and misses her beautiful mugunghwa shrubs that she grew in her garden back home. Very, very slowly things improve. Hee Jun begins to learn english and is eventually invited home by a playmate where he discovers a garden full of mugunghwa shrubs which his friend tells him are called Rose of Sharon in the U.S. Maybe a few slips of these familiar flowers, a piece of home, will cheer up Grandmother. This story could not be more timely. With immigrants arriving on our shores every day, and children here learning how to greet these people and make them feel welcome, this book shows that it can take time, but if we all take the right approach, these new citizens can begin to feel right at home. The illustrations are appealing, colorful and expressive. The text is such that the intended audience will probably need this one read to them.

Overall Book Score: very good