Dog on Board

July 15, 2016
The title and subtitle say it all. Endowed with her own blue bus pass, a sweet black Lab mix named Eclipse is used to traveling on the bus with her owner to the local dog park. One day, when her owner fails to keep up with her, she goes to the park herself, getting off at the correct stop. After that, Eclipse rapidly becomes a local bus-riding celebrity, her solo jaunts inspiring the local news to cover her travels (and, eventually, this book). Readers waiting for the moment when Eclipse's story becomes more than just a cute pet segment on a local television station are in for a disappointment. Though Patent and Young keep Eclipse's voice upbeat and happy (and in the first person), there's little to be gleaned from her tale. Some mention is made of famous Seattle landmarks near the book's end, but those details feel superfluous. An offhanded mention in a note from Patent and Munoz to the fact that Eclipse is a service dog (never mentioned in the story nor made clear in photographs) marks a missed opportunity to educate above and beyond Eclipse's propensity for public transit. A note from Young and list of resources round out the volume. All told, a nice-enough dog story better suited to social media than the posterity of print. (Informational picture book. 4-8)

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October 1, 2016

PreS-Gr 1-Half Labrador retriever and half mastiff, Eclipse loves going to the dog park. One day her owner (referred to as her "buddy"), Jeff, misses the bus to the park, but she heads there on her own. Now Eclipse is famous for her solo bus rides and even has her own fans. The book, narrated by Eclipse herself, is definitely an extension of a local news human interest story. The photographs are large and clear and include many of Seattle's famous sites, but the story is slight, with not much to hold readers' interest. VERDICT Optional where dog titles are in demand.-Laura Stanfield, Campbell County Public Library, Fort Thomas, KY

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2016
Grades K-3 This photo-filled picture book spotlights real-life Seattle dog Eclipse, who, in 2015, gained attention for riding the bus by herself. Told from Eclipse's point of view, the story relates how she and her adult owner regularly took the bus to the dog park, but on one occasion, they became separated and she boarded alone. Fortunately, she remembered the right stop and got off, her owner followed, and they reunited. Soon, she began riding independently, eventually getting her own bus pass. Thanks to a local news story, Eclipse gained further friends and fame, and here she describes other excursions, like visiting local businesses, and ponders future adventures. The lively text in a large, easy-to-read font pairs well with the many color photos depicting Eclipse on the bus and in the park, which highlight her friendly, social nature. Young, Eclipse's owner, offers some further info about his four-legged friend, including the fact that she's a service dog, in an appended note. Eclipse's story is perfect for the picture book set, and doggie lovers will get right on board.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)