Scooter in the Outside

February 1, 2012
A bouncy golden retriever named Scooter escapes his suburban home for a solo adventure in this amusing tale full of comical canine conversations. Scooter enjoys a close relationship with his owner, a little girl named Lucy. She walks Scooter regularly in their suburban neighborhood, but he longs to see the larger world past the corner of their street. When Lucy leaves the door open, Scooter scoots out to explore, finding unfamiliar territory a scary place with loud fire engines and garbage trucks. Lucy finds Scooter and leads him home to his safe and secure world with his favorite green dog bed. The brisk and cheerful text is full of sound effects spelled out in capital letters, such as Scooter's sloppy kisses, his tail thumping against the floor or the loud siren noises. Scooters varied canine vocalizations are followed by translations in English to convey the dog's exuberant emotions and innocent intentions. His winning personality is captured in loose watercolor-and-pencil illustrations in a pleasant palette of soft greens and golds. Scooter will win over any fans of big, friendly dogs, especially when his woofs, arfs and barks are rendered by a suitably enthusiastic reader. (Picture book. 3-6)

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March 1, 2012

K-Gr 2-Scooter the dog is always on a leash when he and Lucy go walking throughout the neighborhood, enjoying the sights, sounds, and smells. Then one day, as Lucy rushes out to school, she leaves the front door ajar. Scooter immediately takes advantage of his first taste of freedom. He runs around the usual spots and then comes to the street. Should he cross? Yes, it's off to new adventures. He runs through a sprinkler, which is fun, but he is quite frightened by a wailing fire truck and beeping garbage truck. As he cowers under a tree, Lucy comes along and takes the grateful pup home. This simple story is elevated by its use of language and sound effects. "'Look at me! Look at me!' he barked to the world. But what came out was this: 'WOOFA-WOOFA-WOOFA!'" The watercolor illustrations show an expressive, lovable canine and a friendly neighborhood with an assortment of people engaged in typical activities. Altogether, this is a winning package.-Ieva Bates, Ann Arbor District Library, MI

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2012
Preschool-G Lucy and Scooter have a routine. Every evening they take a walk in THE OUTSIDE, tromping the same route all the way to the corner, but never past it. Lucy sings, Scooter wags and barks, and they arrive home safely to a treat, a water bowl, and Scooter's doggy bedtime. One morning Scooter finds the door ajar and heads out alone, venturing past the corner, where he discovers that THE OUTSIDE is bigger, better, and scarier than he imagined it to be. Lucy finds him, routine is restored, and all is well. The pattern of the pair's regimen makes for a sturdy story arc, complete with predictable communications (Lucy with her words and Scooter with tongue and tail) and woof-to-English translations. Carter's sunny watercolor sketches hum with energy, filling the neighborhood setting with friendly detail. Children with dogs at home will recognize the familiar responsibilities of canine care, and those without may well inquire about getting a pet of their own.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)