Customer Reviews

Dr. Duncan Dog on Duty!

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"My job is to go to school, ask questions, try my best, and have a good time," says the little girl who tells this story. Everyone in the family has a job, and their dog Duncan's job is to be a therapy dog at the nearby children's hospital. This is a children's book that affirms the idea that everyone (even the family pet) can be of service and has something to share. Children will be introduced to the healing and comfort brought to people of all ages by therapy dogs. Though the ending is a bit abrupt, the illustrations are warm and colorful, and the concepts empowering. And who could not love the adorable Dr. Duncan Dog?

by Carolyn Blankenship
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women

Dr. Duncan Dog On Duty! takes a different route with introducing multi-cultural family. The book shows a multi-cultural family but the story line is not about explaining the multi-cultural family. It is refreshing to see a multi-cultural book that uses a story line without the need to clarify the diversity in the household. The story is about a dog that provides a service by comforting patients at a local hospital.

It also demonstrates the value of each family member and how each person contributes and has responsibilities. The illustrations are vibrant and really help support the narrative. The pace was even throughout which encourages young readers to turn the pages from cover to cover with interest.

This lovely book for children gets high points for its unique direction in the introduction of multi-cultural families and its ability to convey a strong chronicle with complementary imagery. It is an essential book for families and schools to offer.

"A delightful book. It has become a family favorite." -- Bettye Baker, columnist, Vineyard Gazette, Martha's Vineyard, Mass.

This inspirational and educational children's book is written from the perspective of a little girl in a busy but loving family. Her father is an attorney and her mother is a children's book author (Lisa Dunn-Dern?) who writes at home.

The little girl has an industrious pet bird named Delilah, and a friendly brown dog named Duncan that they rescued from the shelter. Duncan is a "Therapy Dog" whose job is to visit sick children in hospitals.

Readers will learn all about therapy dogs from this delightful book - how they must get ready to visit a hospital; what they must wear (they have a special ID vest and a backpack with three important things inside); and the kinds of things they do to help children and adults to feel better.

"Dr. Duncan Dog on Duty" has adorable color illustrations by Andrea Yomtob on each page, with easy-to-understand text for young readers. Children will want to read this heartwarming book again and again.

Mr. Duncan Dog on Duty is one of those wonderful delightful jewels of a children's book that you want to give to all of the people you know from the very young to the very old. With a wonderful tale about a hospital visiting dog, and the life-loving and life-giving family who owns him, this book is a joyous celebration of life, loving what you do everyday, and the joys of service. Service, not in the showy way, but in the simple caring way that shows how simple, but how meaningful it can be.

I love this book. I love the quirkiness, the joy, the delightful text and illustrations, the multi-racial family that is at the center of the book and with no fanfare, just a beautiful fact of life.

And, the illustrations are absolutely delightful, done with imaginative detail, great sense of humor--again for all ages---so that everyone can have a great time looking at the quirky and delightful details.

This book makes me smile whenever I read it, or even think about it. A great story, great drawings, and a great book!

"Dr. Duncan Dog On Duty!" is the picturebook story of a family where the father, the mother, the daughter, and the family pets all have their jobs to do. When an interracial family adopts a dog from the animal shelter, he is put to work as a therapy dog and visits sick children in the hospital every week, encouraging the kids to get through their hospital stay. Author Lisa Dunn-Dern's simple but engaging story for children ages 4 to 8 is quite nicely enhanced throughout with colorful illustrations by Andrea Yomtob. With its underlying message of service to others, "Dr. Duncan Dog On Duty!" is a pleasant and charming addition to any family, preschool, elementary school, and community library picturebook collection for young readers.