  | Full Text Reviews: Booklist - 08/01/2016 Frank’s bad day is turned around when his parents take him to the animal shelter, and he picks out Lucky. Perkins’ playful, multidisciplinary picture book follows the boy and his dog as they get to know each other and learn about the world. Together, the winsome pals learn about a variety of topics by exploring their surroundings. For example, when Lucky gets sprayed by a skunk, Frank learns about experimentation and chemistry. Elsewhere, Lucky and Frank learn about history (when they spot a statue of Balto), geography (when Lucky runs off in the fields near Frank’s house), and foreign languages (when they meet a couple of Spanish-speaking kids in their neighborhood), among many others. The scattered pace of discovery, while a bit jolting as a narrative device, is a great replication of the frenetic pace of doggie enthusiasm and unstructured exploration. Perkins’ watercolor-and-ink illustrations incorporate labels, diagrams, and maps to emphasize the pair’s lessons. The wide variety of subjects is engrossing, but it’s the bond between Frank and Lucky that steals the show. - Copyright 2016 Booklist. School Library Journal - 12/01/2016 K-Gr 4—Lessons learned and shared between a boy and his dog cover many subjects, from science (mud, burdocks, ticks, and skunks) to math (the number of biscuits a dog deserves and the percentage of a boy's bed it requires) in this picture book that's as joyful as a meander through the woods with a curious canine. A truth extracted from the art lesson: "Every picture [and book] is better with a dog in it." - Copyright 2016 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Loading...
 |