War Dogs

December 10, 2012
Selbert’s debut illuminates the private and public personas of Winston Churchill in the thick of WWII. A warm, gentle side of his personality is evident through his interactions with his tan poodle, Rufus. Soft acrylic and collage illustrations capture the bond between the two, with Rufus looking on as the prime minister delivers a radio address at the House of Commons, accompanying his master while he surveys damage from German bombs, and helping Churchill “keep his spirits up” as he works with his allies to plan the invasion of Normandy. Quota­tions from Churchill’s speeches, set apart from the rest of the text, underscore his eloquence and aptitude as a diplomat. Selbert’s concise narrative addresses bombings, military operations, and rebuilding efforts in way that’s straightforward, but not frightening; after a nighttime raid (“Their home is under attack. The city smells of fire”), a somber wordless spread shows the blacked-out city of London shrouded in smoke, the outline of St. Paul’s cathedral barely visible. A WWII time line and biographical anecdotes about Churchill conclude this revealing dual portrait of a devoted pet owner and resolute politician. Ages 7–10.

March 1, 2013

Gr 1-4-One thing that may have helped Churchill through the difficult World War II years was the company of his miniature poodle, Rufus. Taking a child's (or dog's) eye view, the book focuses on the prime minister's days as he worked in a reinforced underground bunker for safety during the Blitz. When he went on walks to assess the damage, the illustrations show destroyed buildings but not injured people or bodies. When he left to plan D-Day with Roosevelt and Stalin, Rufus guarded the bunker and awaited his return. World War II is covered in a compressed manner. Major points are mentioned but not in detail. Quotations from Churchill appear as small notes "thumbtacked" to the larger spreads. The author includes detailed notes about Churchill's life in general and his poodles in particular. A time line of World War II events provides historical context to the story. The acrylic and collage illustrations are primarily rendered in gentle earth tones. The resulting book is historically accurate, interesting, and appropriate for young children.-Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2013
Grades 2-4 Winston Churchill might have been known as the British Bulldog, but in truth he was best friends with a miniature poodle named Rufus. When WWII comes crashing down on London, the small dog bears witness to Churchill's efforts as prime minister. Although the book is not told strictly from Rufus' point of view, first-time author Selbert uses the dog as an identifier for readers. Her illustrations, which incorporate orange-brown tones similar to the color of the little poodle, have a softness about them that seems at odds with harsh wartime realities. But as the story works toward its conclusion, which is not so much about the end of the war, but how the two war dogs can finally rest, Selbert nicely shows the immense pleasure and support a human can take from a friendship with an animal. An author's note at the end discusses Churchill's long relationship with poodles, as well as a brief overview of Churchill's place in history. There is also a time line of WWII and an impressive selection of further resources and sources consulted.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)