Title: Puppy Minding
Author: Liam Goodall
Illustrated by: Shannen Marie Paradero
Publisher: XlibrisAU
ISBN: 978-1-5245-1884-4
Pages: 26
Genre: Illustrated Children’s Book
Reviewed by: Beth Adams
Pacific Book Review Star
Awarded to Books of Excellent Merit
Sally and Ellie meet when they each get a puppy from the same litter. As they all begin their lives on the same course of puppy training, it becomes obvious after a short period of time there becomes a noticeable discectomy in the way the girls each raise their puppies. Sally continues with puppy school, as Ellie opts out at times just to stay at home relaxing with her cuddly friend; Sally follows up with daily training, as Ellie skips this routine; Sally disciplines her dog while Ellie allows her dog to do what dogs do – and gets mad when her house is in shambles. Finally and most importantly, Sally teaches her dog good social manners while Ellie simply leaves her dog at home.
Author Liam Goodall sets the scene for the storyline of this book to a climatic ending. In Puppy Minding, a life-and-death situation is brought about which requires the service of each of these dogs! Sally’s dog comes to the rescue, while Ellie’s dog cowards under a table during a thunder and lightning storm. Why are these two dogs so different when in fact they both were littermates? The moral is brought to young readers’ realization by way of example – continuing learning, discipline in daily activities and proper socialization will result in a well-balanced life. If you fail to work with your “master,” whether it is your parent or teacher, you will fall behind in life.
Beautifully illustrated by artist Shannen Marie Paradero, paging Puppy Minding creates a wonderful storyboard of Goodall’s words combined with the detailed images to take children’s imagination to the world of puppy love. Clearly yet subtly, the morale of success being achieved through persistence and structure of daily activities is projected and reinforced each time this book is read at bedtime. It is an excellent work within this expanding genre of illustrated children’s book, exemplifying the best practices of the craft. Liam Goodall boils down to the basics, just what is important to do everyday, using the puppies as examples of which all kids can relate too.
Having read hundreds of children’s books, I clearly rank Puppy Minding as being among the best. Not only do the dogs embark upon altered parallel courses of development resulting in a difference in strength and personalities, but once this is realized by Ellie, she takes “corrective action” to finally align her activities to reshape her puppy into being better behaved – before it becomes too late. We all know, you can’t teach old dogs new tricks, so it’s important to teach them while they are still puppies, or at least, young dogs.
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