About This Book:
Small dog . . . Big adventure
“When the wind blows and the door opens wide, He seizes the moment and scampers outside.”
A tale of adventure, love, and redemption about a mischievous dog who bites off more than he can chew.
*Review Contributed By Karen Yingling, Staff Reviewer*
Off on an Adventure!
Jack lives with his brother Kes and their humans on a remote and windswept farm. While Kes enjoys snuggling beside the fireplace, Jack lives for adventure and takes off to roam the hillsides whenever possible, causing his owner to try to find him. One day, Jack takes off and keeps going through the meadows and woods, ending up at a harbor town. It’s a bustling place full of new noises and people, and Jack soon finds himself on a boat that is sailing out to sea! The crew takes good care of him, and Jack meets gulls and crabs, but soon a storm blows up. Jack wishes he were back home where it is safe and warm! After his big adventure, Jack manages to make it home, and no longer feels a need to run quite so far away from his cozy existence.
Told in verse, and illustrated with softly colored crayon drawings, this book shows Jack’s excitement at seeing the world, but contrasts it against Kes’ and the owner’s worry about his safety. Jack’s enthusiasm is evident in his facial expressions, and his travels across the countryside are fun to see. Young readers will appreciate the “there’s no place like home” message of the ending!
Dogs having adventures is always a good topic for a picture book, and this is one to include for readers who enjoy these topics along with Barnett’s Paolo, Emperor of Rome, Smith’s Hugo and the Impossible Thing, and Varni’s Ciao, Sandro.
