Common Sense Media Review
By Jan Carr
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Spare text and evocative art capture dog's beach adventure.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 3+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
FETCH tells the story of a dog playing fetch at the beach. When he's sent chasing after a red ball, he ends up in the ocean, where he encounters a host of ocean creatures. Each page is printed with one action verb, and we see the dog swimming with fish, diving near a seal, playing catch with seagulls, paddling near dolphins, and even floating high above a lone shark who's not a threat, intent on its own ocean business. The story ends with the dog returning the ball to a little girl, ready to play fetch again.
Is It Any Good?
The heart of Fetch is in the art; though it's a simple story -- dog chases red ball -- it feels like high adventure. The dog crashes through waves and paddles next to leaping dolphins. In two of the spreads, Hurley cleverly turns the book sideways so the longer spreads can depict the mysterious depths of the ocean. Overall, she conveys the exuberance of play and freedom at the beach.
The spare text works well with the evocative art, though some of the verbs are more fun and vivid than others: "splash" vs. the more abstract "meet"; "shake" vs. the more pedestrian "run." But the text is not the main attraction. Parents and kids alike can take pleasure in the bounding dog, let loose to play on the beach.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the beach. Which animals live in the water? On the shore?
How do dogs like to play? How do kids like to play? Why do you think play is important?
How does the art in this book tell a story even though there are very few words? Tell the fuller story yourself, in your own words.
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Jorey Hurley
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Animals ( Ocean Creatures ) , Friendship , STEM
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Paula Wiseman
- Publication date : February 3, 2015
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 3 - 7
- Number of pages : 40
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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