Review by New York Times Review
Tearjerkers are a fixture in the dog book genre, but they are perhaps less prevalent in the kiddie division, which makes this enormously affecting Australian import so distinctive. While not the book parents would want to present alongside the new family puppy. "Harry & Hopper," the slory of a boy who loses his beloved dog, will provide literary comfort to any child mourning a pet of his own. Softly colored charcoal drawings add tenderness to this empathetic, bittersweet tale. WOOF MEOW TWEET-TWEET Written and illustrated hy Cécile Boyer. 48 pp. Seven Footer Kids. $15.95. (Picture book; ages 4 to 8) A high-concept portrait of the contrasting lifestyles of dog, cat and bird, "Woof Meow Tweet-Tweet" never once depicts the animals described within. Instead, each is portrayed by its "animal sound," whose letters are stretched, bent and amplified "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom"-style to reflect the animal's movements and manner. Translated from the original French, the story is simple, but with animal noises added, young children will appreciate it read aloud. CHARLIE THE RANCH DOG By Ree Drummond. Illustrated by Diane deGroat. 40 pp. HarperCollins. $16.99. (Picture book; ages 4 to 8) The one-woman blogging enterprise known as the Pioneer Woman, whose Web site tracks her path from city gal to ranch wife, has written her first children's book, a day in the life of her basset hound, Charlie. Described from Charlie's languorous perspective, ranch living is a round of hard labor, from sniffing the porch steps to supervising the activities of his peppier companion, Susie. DeGroat appealingly illustrates the bucolic setting, and Charlie agreeably channels his owner's down-homey twang. PUSSYCAT, PUSSYCAT, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? By Dan Bar-el. Illustrated by Rae Maté. 32 pp. Simply Read Books. $16.95. (Picture book: ages 4 to 8) Unbeknownst to many Mother Goose readers, a number of classic rhymes continue way past their well-known opening stanzas ("Old Mother Hubbard" is a particularly fine example), but here, Bar-el creates his own extension of the initial London rendezvous in "Pussycat, Pussycat." Traveling onward to Paris and Australia and over the midnight seas, the pussycat adventures through imaginative Chagall-style acrylic paintings. "Pussycat, Pussycat, will you stay home? / I always get restless, I always will roam." Take that, lazy cats. MEET THE DOGS OF BEDLAM FARM, by Jon Katz. Illustrated. 32 pp. Holt. $16.99. (Picture book; ages 4 to 8) Another blog, another book: Kalz, the author of popular dog books for adults ("A Dog Year") makes a foray into children's books with an introduction to his four dogs. Rose herds sheep, Izzy visits sick people and Frieda guards the farm. But what, the book repeatedly asks, does Lenore do? Katz's photographs depicting the dogs' vastly different personalities are great fun for dog lovers and a fine lesson for dog fearers. Lenore, it turns out, makes sure everyone is happy. "Thanks to Lenore, the dogs are a family." GRACIE THE LIGHTHOUSE CAT, written and illustrated by Ruth Brown. 32 pp. Andersen Press USA. $16.95. (Picture book; ages 4 to 9) This true story of a double rescue in 1838, in which Grace Darling, a lighthouse keeper's daughter, alerts her father to a storm-struck ship at the same time the lighthouse cat, Gracie, discovers one of her kittens is missing, is illustrated with lush, expressive paintings. From the cat's-eye view, the human drama, in which 13 people were saved, is relegated to backdrop. A historical note about Darling, a heroine in Victorian England, appears on the endpaper. PAMELA PAUL
Copyright (c) The New York Times Company [May 15, 2011]
Review by Booklist Review
Popular blogger and adult-book author Drummond (The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels, 2011) writes from the point of view of her basset hound, Charlie, who shares details about their ranch life. Although Charlie states that it is he who is the caretaker, keeping critters away from the front porch and helping out in the garden, in actuality, he sleeps much of the time, and it is Suzie, a hyperactive Jack Russell terrier puppy and Charlie's best friend, who is on top of things. Charlie is OK with that until everyone goes off to work on another part of the ranch without him. However, he is able to prove his worth when cows get into the garden. DeGroat's cozy illustrations picture a beguiling Charlie on a comfortable ranch with appealing accoutrement. An observant chipmunk adds an extra touch of humor, and a lasagna recipe is thrown in for good measure. Mary Casanova's Some Dog (2007) and Sandra Day O'Connor's Finding Susie (2009) feature canines in similar situations.--Enos, Randall Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
A droopy-eyed basset hound is the star of the first children's book from Drummond, best known for her Pioneer Woman blog and subsequent books. Perhaps the most self-deluded ranch dog since Hank the Cowdog, Charlie introduces himself and Suzie, the younger, more energetic dog on Drummond's ranch. While lazy Charlie contemplates chasing a cow out of the yard, Suzie gets the job done. As Charlie sniffs under the porch steps for interlopers and finds none, Suzie gives chase to a squirrel she's found in the same spot. Charlie seems unaware of the impish chipmunk that deGroat, with characteristic humor, sneaks into each spread. Her paintings drolly portray the discrepancy between reality and Charlie's perceptions of his day, during which eating ("I can't be expected to do all this work on an empty stomach") and napping ("I must have accidentally closed my eyes for a few seconds") are high priorities. Adult readers will recognize in Charlie's voice the understated humor that has made Drummond's blog so successful; kids should find it irresistible. Ages 4-8. (May) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-Charlie, a lovable layabout basset hound, believes, "Work. . .is what I do best." His friend Suzie, a young terrier, has boundless energy and zips around the ranch chasing squirrels, rounding up cattle, and fetching baskets of vegetables. Despite his proclamations, Charlie's real penchant is for eating ("Breakfast is my life") and napping ("Huh? What'd I miss? Oh. I must have accidentally closed my eyes for a few seconds"). But he springs into action when he is needed most and chases Daisy the cow out of the garden with a loud, hound-dog howl. DeGroat's winsome illustrations capture Charlie's daily routines, including sniffing the porch steps and snoozing in the grass. The comic irony of the text will amuse readers, and Charlie's quirks will win many fans.-Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Ranch dog Charlie, a lazy basset hound, doesn't run, dig, or jump like his energetic sidekick Suzie. But when the cows start snacking in the farmer's garden, Charlie is right there to shoo them away. This is more an homage to the author's own pet than a story. DeGroat's illustrations capture both expressive dogs' antics. A gratuitous lasagna recipe is included. (c) Copyright 2011. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Office Buckle and Gloriafame, Charlie's perceptions are quite different from reality. His down-home dialogue coupled with expressive watercolors give readers not-so-subtle clues about the personality of the dogs involved.They see Suzie running and herding the cattle, lugging baskets of vegetables and generally keeping the ranch in shape while Charlie rests his eyes and sleeps. But one day Charlie finds himself without his sidekick and actually proves himself to bea valuable farmhand. Young readers will chuckle at the unabashed, obvious humor and will especially enjoy finding the hidden, unnamed chipmunk buddy on every page. Rather bafflingly, Drummond, mostly known for her Pioneer Woman blog, provides an unexpected recipe for lasagna as backmatter. This incongruity aside, Charlie's tale is an agreeable if ephemeral one.(Picture book. 2-6)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
