LOST! a Dog Called Bear

July 1, 2011

With a limited vocabulary perfect for readers just edging into chapter books, the tale of Logan's efforts to locate his lost dog rings completely true.

After Logan's parents separate, he and his mother and Border collie, Bear, head for a new home in the suburbs, but Bear gets lost. Shortly afterward, Hannah's father finds the missing pet in the back of his truck. Hannah is desperate for a pet, but her parents decide to leave the dog at the Rainbow Street Shelter (the name of this new series) to give him his best chance for return to his owners. There Hannah begins volunteering with the animals, recognizing their need for affection. Logan, miserable over leaving his family's farm and his parents' break-up, is devastated by the loss of his beloved dog. As his parents try to track down Bear and Hannah's parents recognize her growing level of responsibility, glimmers of hope appear for both children. While the very brief text, accompanied by frequent attractive black-and-white illustrations, doesn't give room for extensive character development, the essentials are effectively captured.

The believable plot and inherent suspense will keep readers turning the pages of this fine addition to early chapter books, which will resonate with both pet lovers and children involved in divorces. (Fiction. 7-10)

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September 15, 2011
Grades 2-4 Logan is upset about his parents' divorce and unhappy about moving from their farm to the city. Worse, on the long drive to his new home, his dog is lost. In a parallel story, Hannah is disappointed when her parents won't let her keep the border collie that has stowed away in her Dad's pickup truck. Still, she gains their permission to volunteer at the animal shelter where they have taken him. The two story threads converge in the satisfying ending. An Australian writer, Orr has a way with words and dialogue that brings this story to life. The book is well designed for readers moving up to chapter books, with its short sentences, well-spaced lines of type, and attractive illustrations. Expressing emotions through subtle physical cues, Boase's shaded pencil drawings depict both people and dogs with grace and sensitivity. A promising start for the Rainbow Street Shelter series.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)