Book Review: Lucky Dog (kids, shelter dogs, short stories)

Lucky Dog: Twelve Tales of Rescued Dogs (Scholastic Press, 2014, 192 pages, $15.99, grades 3-7, ages 8-12)

A Blue Moon Book

Once in a blue moon along comes an anthology of stories, each of which is better than the others. Lucky Dog is one such book.  The first story, “Like an Old Sweater,” is only surpassed by the second, “The Incredibly Important True Story of Me!”

At the Pawley Rescue Center, Troy finds he has a way with dogs – or one dog in particular, Oscar. Unfortunately, Oscar has been adopted and is leaving the shelter – but with whom?

A Pomeranian named Foxtrot who befriends a huge galumph of a dog named Bear so as not be eaten by Bear. But can you guess what happens when Foxtrot is adopted, but not Bear?

One twin wants a dog but her sister doesn’t. Who will win out? Maybe both?

How It May Have Come To Be

The authors are well-known (Teddy Slater of the controversial Smooch Your Pooch, Ellen Miles of The Puppy Place series, Kirby Larson of Nubs fame and an author in the American Girls series). Those who are lesser known have written books whose titles entice you to read them: Boys are Dogs, Girl’s Best Friend, Plunked, Rotten, A Dog and His Girl, Switched Sisters, Dog Tags).

Perhaps Scholastic turned to these authors and gave them some caveats around which to write a dog and kid story: Nora who needs new jokes to tell* and who works at a dog shelter called the Pawley Rescue Center run by Mr. Joe and his daughter Sophia Cole, the veterinarian Dr. Mehta who also works there – that might be enough in common from story to story.

What’s Different?

Maryland, Annapolis, the Washington Wizards, the dogs’ breeds, the kids from 8-12 (boys and girls) who have always wanted a dog or are afraid of dogs, twins, kids with Navy dads who are deployed, divorced parents, Farfel, and more.

Kids Who . . . .

Lucky Dog is the story/stories of shelter dogs who chose their people, of kids who have always wanted a dog but get pants or a shirt instead, or a turtle that turns out to be dead.

Lucky Dog

Lucky Dog is a short book of short short-stories that will delight you and entertain your child. You can read it together or together separately. Kids can read one story a night and when they fall off to sleep to dream of dogs, their parents can stay up and read the same story: the breakfast conversation is one I can easily imagine as the two rehash the love of dogs or the lessons learned - about being patient, about gaining courage, about. . . .

·       Q: What do you get when you cross a cocker spaniel, a poodle, and a rooster?

A: A cockerpoodledoo-hoo-hoo        

Q: What kind of market does a dog hate?

A: A flea market

Q:  What kind of dog tells time?

A: A watch dog!