7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Tender story about compassion for animals and brotherly love, July 3, 2004
By A Customer
Readers used to David Lubar's signature humor will find something different in DOG DAYS. But different isn't bad. In this case, it's very good. Instead of his typical (well crafted) giggles, Lubar reaches for tenderness and depth of characterizations in this book about a baseball loving boy's quest to save and place helpless stray dogs -- and his little brother's unwavering desire to affectionately tag along. For those parents and educators searching for an uplifting, interesting "boy book" without a swear word in it, look no further. Lubar has answered your prayers. Outstanding option for reluctant readers or kids who just love baseball and dogs.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
This is a simple, but very appealing mystery of what an unusual dog is fiercely protecting an alley ..., August 28, 2011
This review is from: Dog Days (Paperback)
Six-year-old Paul Haskins's imagination seemed to run overtime every now and then, but his older brother was very patient with him. No boy wanted to be interrupted during a baseball game, but when Paul desperately called out to Larry, Carlos Montoya stepped up to take his spot. Paul was worried that someone was in trouble in the alley between the Reader's Roost Bookstore and LaGuardia's Diner. There was an unusually large "red stain, five feet above the ground ... spattered against the side of the bookstore." What was more worrisome to Larry was the fact that there was a dog baring his teeth and growling at the two of them. Larry never had any problems with dogs so why was this mutt acting this way for nothing?
Larry tried to tell Paul that it was probably just paint, but Paul said that "It isn't paint. Paint would say something." Maybe, but there would be no convincing a kindergartner that the stain was just paint and that the dog was just harmless . . . or was it? Larry like to help out stray dogs and was taking care of three at the moment. He had Duke, Buck, and Hobo. The were vet checked and Larry worked hard to make sure they had enough food to eat. It was getting hard to find little jobs so he could afford the price of the food. Later on Paul would be a bit more insistent that there was something wrong in the alley. The third time he made Larry head to the alley there was "another spot on the wall." Was it really paint or could it possibly be blood and what the heck was that mangy dog protecting in that alley?
This is a simple, but very appealing mystery of what an unusual dog is fiercely protecting an alley. This is not a complicated plot by any means, but would be a perfect book for any youngster who is both a reluctant reader and a dog aficionado. It has one of those feel good endings that I enjoy in children's books. I especially liked the idea that Larry was not only patient and kind to his brother, Paul, but also to his four legged friends. For some reason this book reminded me of the book club offerings that Scholastic used to offer when I was a child. It was short, sweet, and the surprising twist at the end made me want to read more of the same ilk. This is an excellent, short book geared toward ages 6 to 9 that would be perfect to spark an interest in reading whether it be your own child or one in your classroom!
This book courtesy of the publisher.
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