Big Dog

PreSchool-Grade 2-- Lilly, a fearful child, is given a puppy to "help." The puppy becomes too enormous to live in the city, and Lilly realizes that he will be happier in the country. On the way home from the country, Lilly buys two turtles and meets another girl buying turtles, and the two become friends. The story is mediocre and illogical. While Lilly's fearfulness is something that most children will relate to, there is no reason it would not return once Woody, the dog who cured it, is gone. Having a friend might allay anxiety, but the connection here is not clear. Most children would not consider turtles (no longer sold in many states because of health problems) a satisfactory replacement for a dog. Gottlieb's illustrations are humorous in a Feiffer-cum-Matisse style but will probably have more appeal to adults than to children. Woody is almost menacing with his sharklike face and toothy grin. The absurdity and humor which have enabled Bridwell's "Clifford" books (Scholastic) to endure are totally lacking here. Barbara Porte's Harry's Dog (Greenwillow, 1983) is a much more satisfactory story about having to give up a pet. --Louise L. Sherman, Anna C. Scott School, Leonia, NJ
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Lilly is afraid of many aspects of city living, like riding alone in elevators and walking to the store alone. Her parents believe that owning a dog might help, so they enlist the help of Uncle Martin, whose dog has just had puppies. Lilly picks out a fluffy black one and names him Woody. Woody grows and grows, and soon Lilly can go anywhere without feeling afraid. But now there is another problem: Woody has outgrown both the apartment and the city. When the family visits Uncle Martin again, Lilly sees how much Woody loves the country. It makes a lasting impression on her, and finally she strikes a deal with her uncle: he can keep Woody in the country if she can visit anytime she wants. Her next choice for pets? Two turtles. Economical language and a straightforward approach enhance this story about a sensitive subject. The decision to give away a cherished pet is never an easy one and Lilly's parents help ease the painful moment by telling her how proud they are of her. Woody's size is conveyed convincingly in the illustrations. Boldly designed pictures in skewed perspectives and idiosyncratic shapes bristle with vigor and glow with unusual colors. Ages 3-6.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.