Review Detail

SOPHIE: JURASSIC BARK is a fun graphic novel about change and imagination. Sophie the dog has been an only child, but everything changes when her parents bring home her new brother, the baby Doug. Sophie is instantly suspicious and has some feuds with Doug that play out in their imagination, though she eventually realizes that Doug is a great addition to their home.

What I loved: This is quite an imaginative graphic novel that shows Sophie and/or Doug using their ideas to create unique stories reminiscent of others, such as Jurassic Park, the old west, Indiana Jones, and more. Other animals also get in on the fun and add a lot of humor to the story. As a graphic novel, the story is primarily told through images and dialogue, and this works super-well here. Even though Doug pretty much only says "bak," Sophie helps to translate as needed and the images convey the tone and emotions of these babbles. The text is easy to follow, and the colorful illustrations are fantastically well done with plenty of detail and expressive characters.

Children will get a kick out of these adventures (or misadventures as the case may be), and also learn that sometimes change and new friends can be for the best. Each chapter is its own sort of story, and they are all really fun. Some of the references (Indiana Jones) may go over children's heads, but they still make for plenty of silliness and charm.

Final verdict: SOPHIE: JURASSIC BARK is a charming graphic novel about change and imagination that works well for the middle grade audience. We're excited to read more!