A Boy, His Dog, and the Sea

A Boy, His Dog, and the Sea
Age Range
4+
Release Date
July 02, 2024
ISBN
978-1536234138
Buy This Book
      
A boy and his dog head to the beach and find that appearances can be deceiving in this story of an unexpected hero from former British Children’s Laureate Anthony Browne.

Danny isn’t expecting much excitement when he sets off with his dog, Scruff, for a walk on the shore. He would much rather play with his older brother, Mick, who’s gone off to be with his friends. Scruff loves the beach, but Danny finds it boring. His mom tells him to keep his eyes open: “You never know what you might see.” At the beach, a game of fetch leads to a close examination of sand treasures, until Danny spies an excited crowd waving at the ocean’s edge. Is there anything he and Scruff can do to help? In this visually striking picture book, Anthony Browne turns his hyperrealistic lens to a story about an ordinary day that becomes something extraordinary.

Editor review

1 review
How an ordinary day becomes unordinary
Overall rating
 
4.3
Plot
 
4.0
Characters
 
4.0
Writing Style
 
4.0
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
 
5.0
For Max and his dog Scruffy it's just another day at the beach - until Max notices something out in the water, and then it's Scruffy to the rescue!

Watercolor illustrations are always a treat, and the pictures here capture the ocean's expanse so well. Beyond the waves, the bobbing sailboats and wave-splashed wind turbines and other little details add to the charm and delight.

The plot is on the lighter side, even for a picture book. I would have liked to see Max demonstrating particular cleverness or courage to aid in the rescue, but in the end everything is up to Scruffy and simple quick action. On the other hand, that is how situations come up in real life where emergencies don't wait for a poetic moment to strike, and this story captures that reality.

Overall, this simple story reminds us how important it is to act on instinct and always look out for one another.
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