Title: Corky Tails: Tales of a Tailless Dog Named Sagebrush: Holly Berry and Mistletoe
Author: Joni Franks
Publisher: Xlibris
ISBN: 979-8-3694-0092-0
Pages: 32
Genre: Illustrated Children’s Book / Fantasy
Reviewed by: Gabriella Harrison

Read Book Review

With the approaching Christmas season, Corky Tails: Tales of a Tailless Dog Named Sagebrush: Holly Berry and Mistletoe by author Joni Franks would be a lovely gift for children and an appropriate book to spread the Christmas cheer while reminding them about core values which make Christmas so special.

It is the eighth book in the Corky Tails series, but reading it as a standalone is also enjoyable. Young Miss, the owner of a cattle ranch in the Rocky Mountains, is worried as Christmas approaches due to her knee injury, which she got during the seasonal round-up of her cattle herd. Having no one to help her but her loyal, tailless corgi, Sagebrush, she wonders how she will cope with all the work she still has to complete. She feels alone but soon discovers that she isn’t. The Shuns (little people), whom she has been providing shelter for, rally together to make her Christmas special. Added to this is a special gift she receives from the unseen world to provide aid to her in her time of need.

This is a heartwarming book. It is encouraging how everyone rallies together to provide relief and comfort for Young Miss in her time of need. The gratitude of the Shun is also endearing. They also provide a story embedded within a story: with their ancient folktale of how fairies chose corgis as their traveling companions to help them cover the long distances required to guard the forest.

Written for children between 9-12 years old, the prose is engaging and beautifully incorporates songs during the festive celebrations. Enhancing the storytelling are the lovely and vibrant illustrations. These illustrations are pretty detailed and will add to the pleasant experience of reading this book. Young Miss highlights the importance of being kind and considerate to everyone and helping in any way possible. Her reaction to the kindness of the Shun, Sagebrush, and the unseen world, and how their actions ease her worries and anxiety over the future is moving and shows how our acts of kindness, no matter how small, can make a world of difference to someone. This is also a lovely book to teach children to take care of nature and how this can benefit all in the long term. Also, working hard and diligently is strongly encouraged. I thought the book’s end was quite satisfying.

Joni Franks tells an endearing tale of love and support in Corky Tails: Tales of a Tailless Dog Named Sagebrush: Holly Berry and Mistletoe.