Dog - Hardcover

Ages 5-8. Lush oil paintings depicting the Irish countryside highlight this story of a stray dog and the crusty old man who learns to love him. The dog appears out of nowhere, making overtures of friendship, but Peter wants nothing to do with the mutt. More than once he shoos him away, but the animal always returns--to warm Peter's feet, share a bite of food, or keep him company--and the two develop an unspoken alliance. When the dog disappears during a particularly intense rainstorm, Peter sets out to search for his missing friend, finally locating him in an abandoned cellar. Blake relates the tale entirely through Peter's monologue, using a lilting Irish dialect. Text and illustration intertwine to tell a complete story: Peter's words reveal his gruff exterior while the expressive paintings betray his true, soft heart. Some children may need assistance to understand the dialect, but once they understand it, they will enjoy this tale of friendship and old age. Kay Weisman

Kindergarten-Grade 2-Old Peter is the cemetery keeper in an isolated Irish seaside village. He works hard, "'to no one's delight,'" and lives a solitary life in a small stone cottage. A stray dog comes down from the hills, and although the man gives it a few scraps of food, he makes it clear that the animal must leave. A nasty summer storm makes him realize that he and the dog are much alike-both in need of companionship and caring. His desperate search for the stray ends in genuine joy, and the final page shows them cuddled together in front of the fire. The oil illustrations give the engaging story line dramatic realism. Blake captures the pastoral landscape, the expressiveness of the man and dog, and the furor of the storm. A simply written book with understated power and depth of emotion that will leave readers with a warm, lasting impression.
Mary Lou Budd, Milford South Elementary School, OH
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.