Service Dogs on the Job

April 1, 2017
Gr 4-7-Facts about service dogs and real-life examples of their work are combined with mixed results. Each opening chapter introduces a real dog and a particular challenge it faced. That story is completed in the final chapter, interrupted by a middle section providing general information about the ways these canines help people. Opening narratives are generally engaging, though splitting them into two parts is somewhat awkward. The true tales in Therapy Dogs and Hunting Dogs are less involving then the more heroic exploits in the other titles. Photographs typically depict breeds other than the one described in the story, which may confuse some readers. Several are named or shown without breed identification, adding to the disconnection between words and images. Using real stories makes sense for this topic, but inconsistent visual support weakens the impact. VERDICT Likely to appeal to dog lovers, but overall an uneven effort.

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