Common Sense Media Review
By Florencia Orlandoni
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Charming Perla the dog teaches boy to roar back at bullies.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In PERLA THE MIGHTY DOG an adopted dog, Perla, teaches her human boy, Nico, how to stand up to a bully. At first, their life seems perfect: Perla has a new home, a new family, and even a cat as her roommate. But there's a room under the stairs where Nico goes to cry, and he confesses to Perla that he's being bullied at school. When Nico witnesses a big dog chasing Perla at the park and Perla successfully stands up to the big dog with her magic roar, Nico decides he'll do the same with Tom, a bully at school. But Nico's roar lands him in the principal's office.
Is It Any Good?
This charming story about a boy and his feisty dog is sure to give parents and young readers a lot to talk about. Allende's descriptions of everyday life in Perla the Mighty Dog are relatable and compelling, with beautiful messages about the joys of adopting a pet and bravely standing up for yourself. Sandy Rodríguez's illustrations are creative and engaging for little eyes (don't miss the delightful little seek-and-find wizard). It's a great introduction to the topic of responding to bullying. The book does imply that standing up to your bullies or fighting back solves the problem, but it doesn't look at what happens when that may not be enough, or when adults may not support fighting back. It leaves such thorny topics open for discussion. Hawk-eyed parents may also notice and wonder why Nico's mom alone shoulders the emotional labor and time burden of going to meet with Nico's principal, when both parents are clearly featured in the book. Aside from these subtle misses, there's a lot of fun and sweetness in this warm dog-buddy book.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can discuss things that make their children strong, like Perla is in Perla the Mighty Dog. What are Perla's super powers? What are yours?
This story also deals with bullying and responding to bullying. How does Nico find the courage to stand up to his bully?
What do you feel like doing when someone bullies you? What is the right thing to do when one is being bullied?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Sandy Rodríguez
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : Animals , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Courage , Gratitude
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Philomel
- Publication date : May 28, 2024
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 4 - 8
- Number of pages : 32
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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