Review Detail

THE DOGS NEXT DOOR is an interesting picture book about neighbors and friendship. When dogs move in next door, a young girl is not really sure about them - especially when they invite themselves over for breakfast and eat all the bacon. However, she gives them more chances and eventually they become friends. These dogs may be bad dogs - something that she notices more when a wanted poster shows up.

What I loved: This was an engaging story with some surprising twists along the way. There are some interesting themes around friendship with others who are different from you and getting along with neighbors. The story keeps readers guessing as it takes a few twists and the conversational tone works well to convey the plot from the perspective of the girl next door.

What left me wanting more: The messages of the book were not clear, and the story felt a bit unsettled. It was a strange way to conclude the story and seemed to present confusing themes, which can be tough for young readers. However, in the setting of a discussion, this could work well for children to interpret.

Final verdict: THE DOGS NEXT DOOR is an engaging and interesting story about neighbors and friendship that will work best for older picture book readers.