Common Sense Media Review
By Regan McMahon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Cute look at President Biden's pooches at home and at play.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 5+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
When CHAMP AND MAJOR: FIRST DOGS starts, Vice President Joe Biden has a German Shepard named Champ, whose "job is to make sure his dad doesn't work too hard." Then Biden adopts a shelter dog, a German shepherd puppy he names Major. Champ teaches Major "everything he knows" and the two become freinds. One picture shows the dogs onstage during a Biden-Harris 2020 campaign event, and in the next one they're at home watching TV and seeing the news that Biden has been elected president. Champ shows Major around the White House, which he had visited when Biden was President Obama's vice president. A flashback scene shows Champ playing with Obama's Portuguese water dogs, Bo and Sunny, on the White House lawn while the Obamas and Bidens look on from the Truman Balcony. The last spread shows Champ and Major asleep on separate dog beds in the Oval Office as President Biden is on the phone, working at his desk.
Is It Any Good?
This cute, cheerful story of family pets that become residents of the White House is charming and simple and carries a positive message about adopting shelter animals. As we learn in the author's note, Champ lived with the Bidens in the vice president's residence during the Obama presidency. Ten years later, in 2018, they adopted Major, now the first shelter pet ever to live at the White House.
The story is thin, lacking details about what Biden's important job is, or who that woman in her suit and Converse sneakers sharing the stage with him is, so adults will need to fill in some blanks as they read aloud. But Sheyda Abvabi Best's cartoon art is adorable and its pastel palette appealing. And the canine main characters deserve a big pat on the head.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Joe Biden brings home a shelter puppy in Champ and Major: First Dogs. Why might someone adopt a pet from an animal shelter instead of buying one from a breeder or a pet store? Do you know anyone who has a shelter dog?
Why do you think most presidents have had pets? Would you have a pet if you became president? What would it be?
Champ and Major help make sure President Biden doesn't work all the time. How does playing or snuggling with an animal help someone relax? What do you do to relax?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Sheyda Abvi Best
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Animals
- Book type : Non-Fiction
- Publisher : Dial Books for Young Readers
- Publication date : January 19, 2021
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 2 - 5
- Number of pages : 24
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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