The Good Dog by Todd Kessler, A Review ★★★★★

Amazon          Goodreads          Barnes and Noble
Books-A-Million          Book Depository

Book Description

Join Tako on an adventure as he makes a brave choice and proves that heroes come in all shapes and sizes. When little Ricky Lee finds a puppy on the side of the road, he takes him home and names him Tako. Ricky's parents say that they will allow Tako to stay only if he is a good dog and follows the 
rules--or it's off to the pound he goes! 

Tako wants more than anything to be a good dog and stay with Ricky, but when greedy Mr. Prichard hatches a plan to put the Lee family's bakery out of business, Tako has to break the rules to protect his new family. Will he be able to spoil Mr. Prichard's plan and be a hero, or will he end up in the pound?

Review

I received an eARC copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Here is my honest review.

As an adult, I really enjoyed this book. The story is thoughtful and has a great message. The illustrations are adorable. I appreciate that it features a family who is not white (sorry, I can't think of the "politically correct" way to say that). As an educator, I believe it is important that (1) children see books that highlight other cultures and ethnicities and (2) that children see people who look like them in books in positive portrayals. This book definitely fits that.
For especially young children (3-6), I don't think they will grasp all of the messages in this book. They will cheer for Tako and recognize the villain for being a bad guy.  It certainly opens the door to discussions on how a community can support each other for younger students and for older students can delve into simple economics. 

I gave this book: ★★★★★

★ = I did not like it     ★★ = It was okay     ★★★ = I liked it    

★★★★ = I really liked it     ★★★★★ = I loved it

Want to Know More?

The American Humane Society has endorsed The Good Dog!

Please visit The Good Dog website to watch a video featuring kid reviews of the book and why pet adoption is important. You will also find discussion guides for educators as well as upcoming events.