Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that there is nothing to be concerned about in this book, which won the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators' Golden Kite Award for Illustrations. Its theme of compassion overcoming fear is a sweet one.
Families who read this book could discuss the situation the author presents. Why do you think Daniel is afraid of dogs? How does he overcome that fear? What are you afraid of, and how do you think you can overcome your fear?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Matt Berman
Susanna Pitzer shows the story in simple, clear text that lets readers draw their own conclusions. Before the text even starts, Larry Day draws readers in on the cover and end-papers with his enchanting illustrations, combining borderless pen-and-ink drawings with watercolor and gouache paintings. Pitzer's knack with family dialogue is matched by Day's vivid depiction of body language. But together the two become more than the sum of their parts.
This happens most poignantly in the confrontation between boy and dog, when Daniel's compassion for the terrified dog wins out over his fear and, in a beautiful spread, he drops to his knees to gather the dog into his arms, both of their hearts pounding. This provides a surprisingly strong climax to an already lovely book sure to be cherished both by dog-lovers and those who maybe have a bit of fear of their own.
From The Book
"I'm the bravest boy of all!" said Daniel. "I'm not afraid of spiders. I'm not afraid of snakes. I'm not even afraid of thunderstorms."
"You're afraid of dogs," said his sister, Jenny.
"I'm not afraid of dogs," said Daniel. "I just don't like them."
Plot Summary:
"I'm the bravest boy of all!" says Daniel. But he is afraid of dogs. "I'm not afraid of dogs," says Daniel. "I just don't like them." So he avoids them as best he can, even climbing up a lamppost to avoid a dog-walker.
But when his mother agrees to take care of his aunt's dog while she travels, avoiding it becomes even harder. He locks himself in his room, and refuses to come out even for dinner. "He's afraid," says his sister. "Am not!" yells Daniel from his room. But a midnight trip to the bathroom during a thunderstorm, only to find the terrified dog huddled behind the toilet, brings out a feeling in Daniel stronger than his fear: compassion.
Related Books:
Other Books by Susanna Pitzer:
Grandfather Hurant Lives Forever
More Dog Stories:
Hachiko: The True Story of a Loyal Dog by Pamela S. Turner
Aggie and Ben: Three Stories by Lori Ries
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Social BehaviorCompassion wins out over fear. |
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