Watchdog and the Coyotes

November 1, 1995
Gr 4-6-Wallace applies his love of animals and sense of humor to yet another successful story. Sweetie, a Great Dane, is on his third owner-his warm-hearted efforts at protection have been misinterpreted by his previous masters. Now he is paranoid about making a mistake for fear of being sent to the pound. Red and Poky, two neighboring dogs, listen to his story with empathy, offering him consolation and bolstering his self-esteem. All seems to be going smoothly until the coyotes arrive from the Arizona desert. They bully the three companions, stealing their food, sleeping in their dog houses, and threatening them with bodily harm. Sweetie takes charge and leads the dogs in training, which culminates in a final victory over the thieving scoundrels. Sweetie, Red, and Poky display their own distinct personalities through their dialogue and actions. The lively scenes depicted in the black-and-white illustrations reflect the upbeat tone of Wallace's writing. Using the popular theme of the weak overcoming the seemingly more powerful, the author has created a fast-paced, descriptive novel suitable for reading aloud or independently. Even reluctant readers will be tempted to finish this book.-Cheryl Cufari, N.A. Walbran Elementary School, Oriskany, NY

December 15, 1995
Gr. 3^-5. Sweetie is a Great Dane, an enormous dog so afraid of being dubbed a bully because of his gargantuan dimensions that he is overly gentle. So horrified is Sweetie by the thought of barking--or even worse, of biting--that at the book's beginning, he watches with a wagging tail as his master's house is robbed. It is a different Sweetie, however, who greets the same cocky burglar when he returns at book's end. In between these two episodes, the timid Great Dane is befriended by his neighbors, an aged and arthritic Irish setter and a small but feisty beagle. It is these two pals who teach Sweetie that he is not being a bully if he fights to protect himself or his friends. And it is in defense of himself and his two neighbors that he fends off a pack of greedy and hungry coyotes in an amusing and exciting brawl that wins Sweetie his self-esteem and identity in this light read with a message. ((Reviewed December 15, 1995))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1995, American Library Association.)