From School Library Journal
Grade 2-5-A satisfying and heartwarming story. Dickon Fielding's mother expects him to take on adult responsibilities and "read" her moods, yet she babies him. He is on medication for hyperactivity and is hoping that the move to a new town will not bring the teasing he has silently endured. The main thing Dickon wants is a dog, but his mother won't allow one. Through a dog-obedience class at the Humane Society, Dickon finds that he can control himself and comfort an abused animal. The workers are impressed with him, and share their opinions with his mother, resulting in a happy ending. Similar to Jack Gantos's "Joey Pigza" books (Farrar), this one is not as zany or energetic, but Little does relate some of the feelings of children who can't always keep themselves on track and develops her protagonist as a believable and sensitive person. Large font and a few illustrations done in charcoal make this a good choice for early chapter-book readers.
Sharon R. Pearce, Chippewa Elementary School, Bensenville, ILCopyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Gr. 3-5. A troubled boy trains himself as well as his dog in this novel first published in Canada. Dickon Fielding's parents are divorced, and his father has disappeared. His mother treats him like a little kid, not like a boy ready to start fourth grade; she calls him "Birdie" and worries about his weak eyes and hyperactivity. At least she doesn't know about the bullying and name-calling he endures at school. Dickon is thrilled when they move to a new home, which is near the Humane Society. He loves dogs, but his mother is afraid of them. While she is at work, he watches the children who have dogs in obedience-training programs, eventually makes friends with them, and is allowed to help train a dog that was abused by a former owner. As Dickon works to calm the dog and teach it to be obedient, he learns how to control himself. Little certainly knows what interests kids and how to tell a satisfying story, and young animal lovers will be secure in knowing that the ending is happy. Try this as a read-aloud.
Jean FranklinCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
