Book Review: Jack and the Case of the Missing Sandwich

Jack and the Case of the Missing Sandwich (A Jack and Sweetie Mystery Book 1) by Dawn Romeo has Jack, a Basset Hound, on a very special case … the case of the missing peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Everyone knows how delicious a peanut butter and jelly sandwich is, but Jack would never take anything that belonged to someone else, and especially not food. Mr. Johnson had left his sandwich outside on his deck, gone back in to fetch a drink, and had come out again to discover the sandwich gone and a dog he thought was Jack walking down the driveway. When Sally, Jack’s owner, hears Mr. Johnson’s accusation she is naturally very disturbed, as is Jack. Sally springs to Jack’s defence, but Mr. Johnson is adamant that Jack is the culprit. This is a case that must be investigated and it’s going to take all Jack’s sleuthing skills to discover the clues leading to the real thief. Will Jack solve the crime and clear his name? Is it possible there’s another dog in the neighbourhood who looks like Jack?

What a charming story and a lovely little mystery that will get young readers guessing as to what really happened and who took the sandwich. Jack uses his detecting abilities to make an interesting discovery, and it’s one that leads to a surprising conclusion. There are some very good life lessons here for youngsters such as honesty being the best policy, not jumping to conclusions, staying calm if falsely accused, and not judging someone by appearances. Other themes include forgiveness and saying sorry, and owning up if one has done something wrong. Delightful illustrations by Jolie Hamm will keep young readers interested while being read to by a parent of caregiver. You don’t have to be a Basset Hound owner to totally love Jack, and young readers can look forward to more adventures and detective mysteries since this is book one in the series.

Book Review: Patch Goes to Hong Kong

Patch Goes to Hong Kong is the second adventure that Patch, an intrepid Jack Russell, undertakes. His first adventure took him to London where he solved a mystery using clues given to him all throughout his journey. Patch’s new adventure starts right away when the mailman delivers a package … a wooden chest that Patch must open using the golden key on his collar. Inside he finds a ticket to … Hong Kong! Whoopee! A new adventure. Patch is so excited. What will he discover on this trip? The first of the clues appears while he is on the plane; a bracelet with a Buddha pendant. As Patch is led from one exciting and interesting place to another, he receives more clues from various dogs, taking him along on his journey. Each place he stops at is a famous tourist site, so he learns a bit more about Hong Kong with each stop. At last he reaches his final destination and meets … a very special person. Who can it be?

Patch Goes to Hong Kong by Anjalique Gupta is simply an adorable, five-star book for young readers. First, the cover and illustrations by Alexandra Gold are just superb, vivid, and do justice to the interesting places Patch visits. I loved them and young readers will have much to appreciate when they take their time over each page. The map at the very beginning is a wonderful idea because young readers can trace Patch’s journey as they read, and see where each place is in relation to each other. Maps are also such fun! This book is a great learning experience for young readers because there’s so much for them to investigate once they have read the story, such as the various kinds of dogs Patch meets, and the cultural aspects of Hong Kong such as the market place and the Dragon festival, and different kinds of food. The illustrations are so detailed and incorporate lots of traditional cultural elements as well. This charming tale of adventure and travel also includes subtle messages about family, love, communication, and caring. Just reading about where Patch visits, what he sees and does will inspire young readers to want to pack their suitcases and have an adventure of their own. The good news is that at the very end of the story we get a hint of where Patch might be going next…

Book Blast: Bash and Lucy Fetch Confidence

Mother Daughter Book Reviews is pleased to be coordinating a Book Blast for the picture book "Bash and Lucy Fetch Confidence" by the mother-son writing team of Lisa Cohn and Michael Cohn (November 3 to 5, 2015).

 

About the Book

Title: Bash and Lucy Fetch Confidence | Authors: Lisa Cohn & Michael Cohn | Publication Date: September 10, 2013 | Publisher: Canines And Kids Publishing | Pages: 34 | Recommended Ages: 3 to 8 Summary: "Bash and Lucy," whose authors were featured on the "Today Show," is a Mom's Choice Silver Award Winner, and Finalist, 2013 USA Best Book Awards. In this contemporary boy-and-dog tale, talkative Bash has a big problem in soccer: His beloved dog, Lucy, is a pro at nabbing the ball, but sometimes at the wrong moment. Coach wants to ban Lucy from soccer practice and games, separating Bash from a companion who boosts his confidence in sports--and life. In this picture book for kids age 4-8, Bash and friends help Coach understand that with Lucy by their side, they feel more confident, laugh more often, and are comforted when they make mistakes. Award-winning author Lisa Cohn and her 5-year-old son (now 7), Michael, wrote the book and started "Michael's Dog Blog" to help overcome their grief over the sudden death of their dog, Lucy. Watch them on the Today Show here: http://www.today.com/video/today/53985936#53985936

Amazon (Print) * Audible

 

The Buzz About the Book

“Bash and Lucy,” an endearing story about a boy and his soccer-loving dog, is a book that kids (and the adults who read it to them) will enjoy. Any kid who plays soccer, any parent who’s watched or coached soccer, and anyone who’s loved a dog will find something to love about this book! ~ Susan Moshofsky, teacher, parent, and former soccer mom

"Bash and Lucy Fetch Confidence" is a wonderful story that teaches kids and their families about the important relationships we can have with dogs and illustrates beautifully how there can be more than one way to do something...and that the best way isn't always the obvious way! It promotes relationships above results and creative thinking above the status quo. A great read for any dog lovers! ~ Phoebe Spier, Musician and Child/Youth Development Professional

In this charming and humorous tale about a boy and his dog, the authors cleverly show us, through the eyes of the boy and his dog, the beautiful life lessons learned about friendship, love and sportsmanship. Lucy-dog embodies the spirit of teamwork as she builds confidence in a boys’ soccer team and encourages them to work together without saying a word! Age-old values such as respect, love and non-violence punctuate the pages. Young or old, one cannot help but smile at the antics of Lucy and her teammates. Bravo! ~ Laura Stipkala, teacher and parent

Such a cute book…awesome illustrations, too. I really like the idea of using the dog to help teach the concept of teamwork, the importance of confidence, and how the dog represented to the boys these ideas. I also enjoyed the flow of the book…It’s a nice story that can teach some great lessons to kids in sports. ~ Kirk Mango, National Champion, Hall of Famer, & author of “Becoming a True Champion”

“Bash & Lucy Fetch Confidence” is a winning picture book that teaches children about the importance of teamwork and sportsmanship while also revealing the close bond between children and their beloved pets..a. great choice for kids age 4-8. ~ Erin MacLellan, author and parent

"Bash and Lucy" drives home a valuable lesson -- kids will have the best opportunity to thrive in sports and life if their adult role models provide a comfortable environment that engenders confidence. I highly recommend including this book in your family's bedtime collection." ~ Jack Malley, youth sports coach and author

 

About the Authors: Lisa Cohn and Michael Cohn

Lisa Cohn and her son, Michael, age 7, are co-authors of the "Bash and Lucy" book and audiobook series. They have appeared on the Today Show, on SiriusXM Radio, in Disney's Babble, in The Oregonian and other media. Their audiobooks feature the voices of Michael and friends, age 7-10. Lisa and Michael's mission is to share their love of books and dogs. They recently launched www.RovingReaderLeaders.com, which features YouTube book reviews by kids, KidLit author interviews by children, and a kids' reading club. You can also visit them at www.BashAndLucy.com.

YouTube | Twitter | Facebook

Google+ | Pinterest | Goodreads

 

** Book Blast Giveaway **

Prize: One winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card or $25 PayPal cash prize, winner's choice Giveaway ends: November 16, 11:59 pm, 2015 Open to: Internationally How to enter: Please enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Terms and Conditions: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. A winner will be randomly drawn through the Rafflecopter widget and will be contacted by email within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. The winner will then have 72 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 72 hours, a new draw will take place for a new winner. Odds of winning will vary depending on the number of eligible entries received. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook. This giveaway is sponsored by Lisa Cohn and is hosted and managed by Renee from Mother Daughter Book Reviews. If you have any additional questions – feel free to send and email to Renee(at)MotherDaughterBookReviews(dot)com. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review: Patch Goes to London

Patch goes to London by Anjalique Gupta is the adorable story of a very clever little Jack Russell called Patch, and his adventures in London. He has a very loving mom who absolutely dotes on him. They live in India. On his collar, Patch notices a shiny gold thing, a key, and he wonders what it is for. His mom tells him he’ll find out soon enough when his first birthday arrives. Patch can hardly wait because his first birthday is almost here! His friends give him lovely gifts but Patch is eager to see his birthday surprise. The postman delivers a parcel that has come all the way from the United Kingdom. Inside is a wooden chest and, at his mom’s suggestion, Patch uses the key to open it. Wow! What a surprise. Inside he finds a pet passport (with his name on it!) and an air ticket to London. It’s all a big mystery but by going to London, Patch will be able to piece together the clues as they unfold in an absolutely amazing adventure. Join Patch as he collects clues and finds out some incredible news at the end of his adventure.

This is a truly wonderful book for young readers to either read by themselves or enjoy reading with a parent or grandparent. Patch’s cute character is based on a real dog, owned by the author, and he has been lucky enough to travel the world with his human mom. The illustrations by Alexandra Gold on each page are just enchanting and make the book into a vivid adventure for young readers. I loved all the details on each page, which will definitely get kids and parents looking up more about each famous landmark where Patch receives yet more clues. The canine characters that give Patch each new clue are too cute for words and every dog is a different breed, adding more interest for young readers who love animals. The good news is that this is just the first of Patch’s adventures in globe trotting. I wonder where Patch will go next. At the end of the book, young fans can keep up with Patch on his Facebook page and Instagram, where no doubt he’ll drop hints about his next destination. A really lovely read that kids will return to time and time again.

Book Review: To Be a Duke

To Be a Duke is the story of a Border Collie cross named Duke. Duke began life being taken away from his mother early, much to his shock. A couple of homes and owners later, and Duke wasn’t really getting the love, training, and attention he needed. His previous owners just didn’t know how to handle him so their reaction was either to pass him on, or tie him up in the yard and ignore him. He developed bad chewing habits, was never house trained, was never properly leash trained and, to the outside person, was a handful. He cowered when threatened, having been beaten in the past. His behaviour didn’t live up to his name, Duke. Life was full of sadness and confusion, and hunger … Until the day a kind lady noticed him, noticed his scabs and thin appearance, and bought him from the man who couldn’t care less about him. But this kind lady was only temporary. Life, miraculously, got even better. From this warm, loving home where Duke found that he was not scolded, beaten or starved, Duke finally went to a Fur-Ever Home, one where everyone seemed to love him, want him, and spent the time and energy to get his behaviour right in a fun and happy way. He ‘unlearned’ fear and confusion, and learned how to be a dog, how to play with a ball, how to catch treats, and how to be confident. He learned that he was needed by every single member of his new family in some way, some mysterious and special way that only he could offer. They were all ‘friends forever.’ Even more mysterious, the spirit of Misty, the previous family dog, still lingered, appearing in his dreams, and Misty was there to guide Duke in his new, happy life. Duke learned to cope with the ups and downs of family life, and discovered he had a very special talent!

Sadly, Duke’s story is nothing new. People get a puppy that starts out cute, and ends up uncontrollable. With the proper chew toys, potty training, leash training, and the ability to respond to obedience commands, a dog knows where it is in life; it knows what the owner expects and everyone is happy. Author Emily-Jane HillsOrford knows dogs and it comes out so clearly in the text. What I really loved about this story is how the author gets right into Duke’s head, showing readers how a young dog can become easily afraid, easily cowed by not being taught properly and thus annoying the owner who doesn’t understand that a dog, like a child, needs to be taught. A dog is not psychic, and it responds badly to what it perceives as anger, violence, and other negative emotions. The author has an amazing gift for being able to portray life from the dog’s perspective and it certainly showed me how my two (much pampered) little pooches could misinterpret my moods and action. The author does not dwell overly long on Duke’s sad past, something that soft hearted animal lovers will prefer, and this makes the book suitable for older children. Instead she focuses on Duke’s new beginnings, his progress of learning how to fit into his new life, and the role he plays in the family’s life. This is also good for new owners and youngsters to read because training is just that—training. A dog does not come with an instruction manual in its head to tell it not to chew something that looks deliciously chewy (shoes, perhaps?). The author subtly highlights how getting a new dog, especially a puppy, involves input and time from the owner. However, the words of warning are there in the beginning of this story, and all too often dogs, so loving, so eager to please, are shuttled around from home to home, finally ending up dumped or at a shelter. Duke is one of the very lucky ones. This is a delightful book for animal lovers, animal owners, and youngsters to enjoy. A heart warming, five-star story for the whole family!

Book Review: The Journal of Ted Terrier

The Journal of Ted Terrier by Pawthor Ted Terrier and his scribe (also a Pawthor) Emma Knight just has to be one of the funniest and wittiest observations I have read on humans and their erratic behaviour, from a dog’s point of view. Ted Terrier, a more than intelligent Jack Russell, lays his family bare, revealing the universal human condition of weakness, insecurity, foibles, and failings, seeing life though rose-coloured specs, and the many other silly human things that silly humans do. His journal spares no one and from six-foot-something head of the family Peter, to depressed mum Jane, to amanuensis sibling Emma (who struggles to hold onto her creativity, hence this book to help her get it back), to the various visitors (so few…), Ted gives readers the benefit of his psychological observations. He is honest, fair, and alarming perceptive, especially if you are a human reading this book and you recognise some of your (ahem) failings as a member of the dominant species.

Pawthor Ted Terrier

Ted starts right off by confessing his obsession with feet, and gives us a description of his family’s feet. The smells of his family’s feet, to be exact. Interesting. That gives readers an idea of how dogs see humans: as smells, not as looks and height. Anyone taller than a human child is very big to a small dog. On the philosophical side, Ted waxes lyrical as he explains the difference between human and dog thinking. Humans’ problem is they think too much and they end up confusing themselves and making their own lives difficult. From there he touches on the benefits of Sunday walks (and everyone knows every day should be Sunday); the problem with religion; how bad it is to get upset; what exactly is black comedy; and what really matters in life. On a practical side, he observes that dogs have it much easier because they wear their clothes (fur) all the time, and how communication with humans can be difficult (i.e. what not to do to visitors’ legs).

The absolutely fantastic illustrations give readers a very clear picture of what happens in Ted’s household and I had many laugh-out-loud moments. Witty, sometimes acerbic, and with comic observations any human will appreciate, The Journal of Ted Terrier will make you see your dog in a very different light. Have you ever said or thought, “If only the dog could talk…” Don’t think that. The dog might surprise you! (Five Stars!)

Keep up with Ted’s observations on life by visiting his Facebook page and his blog.