Tupelo Rides the Rails

April 21, 2008
An idiosyncratic mash-up of canine lore, astronomy and the romance of the railroad, Sweet's (Carmine
) tale wanders—much like its titular character. Callously abandoned by the side of the road, a forlorn dog named Tupelo searches for a new home. She finds kindred spirits in a pack of dogs known as the BONEHEADS (the Benevolent Order of Nature's Exalted Hounds Earnest and Doggedly Sublime), who trust a friendly hobo known as Garbage Pail Tex to escort them, via boxcar, to better lives. Though events don't initially turn out as hoped, Tupelo eventually discovers where, and with whom, she belongs. The narrative momentum goes off track with a subplot about wishing on Sirius, the Dog Star. The small, crowded scenes in cheery watercolors and mixed media showcase Sweet's unusually expressive canine cast. A bounty of design extras include several fold-out spreads, a detailed timeline in dog years of dog heroes (from Balto to Lassie, from Old Yeller to Superman's dog, Krypto) and elegant endpapers featuring various constellations in the night sky. Ages 6–10.

March 1, 2008
K-Gr 3 -A winsome story, full of lore and legend. Tupelo, a dog, is in search of a home with her sock toy, Mr. Bones. Fortunately, she meets up with the Bonehead gang, canines who, wishing upon the Dog Star, bury their bones and hope for the best. A tenderhearted hobo, Garbage Pail Tex, cares for the pack, riding the rails and finding homes (new and old) for his friends. The book opens with a time line of famous pups such as Argos, Odysseus's pet who waited "147 dog years for his master to return." Fans of the author's "Carmine" (Houghton, 2005) will immediately recognize the playful watercolor and mixed-media illustrations. As the dogs settle down for a long night's rail ride, Garbage Pail Tex conjures up the heroic tales of Lassie, Dorothy's Toto, and Superman's Krypto; and ends with a lullaby, "Oh give me a bone/and a yard I can roam]." No lean kibble, this book is packed with such meaty morsels as a map of the heavens, a note on the constellation Canis Major, cartoon collages, and a faux film-clip insert of Lassie. This is a richly rewarding book about the power of wishful thinking and kindness toward those most vulnerable. "Tupelo" is a sweet howl."Teresa Pfeifer, Alfred Zanetti Montessori Magnet School, Springfield, MA"

Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from January 1, 2008
Dogs, stars, tramps, and trains drive this tender picture-book story about a brave stray and her search for home. At the core is the elemental outsider adventure: a small dog, Tupelo, is dumped by the side of the road. Rejected by everyone, she sniffs her way to a group of Boneheads, strays who make a wish to Sirius, the Dog Star, to find a home. A kind hobo, Tex, feeds the dogs and helps them hop a train, and they feel as if they are in dog heaven when he tells them about dog heroes. When the train trip ends, only Tupelo doesnt find shelter. Shes on her own againuntil, guided by Sirius, she is reunited with Tex. Then the two travel on together, side by side. Sweets beautifully detailed artwork, in watercolor and mixed-media, is packed with feeling and story. Dog lovers and their families will enjoy sharing the spreads that open out to profiles of famous dogs, such as Old Yeller, Snoopy, and Rin Tin Tin. Pair this with Marc Simonts The Stray (2001), a story that treats the subject of strays from a more realistic, but equally comforting perspective.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)