Customer Reviews

Frankie, the Walk 'N Roll Dog

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This is a beautiful, uplifting story about hope and overcoming challenges. It is also a brightly illustrated picture book that will touch and delight young readers.

Frankie is a miniature dachshund who lives a happy life with his beloved human parents and dog sister, a gentle chocolate lab named Cassie. Frankie spends his days learning to go potty, taking long bicycle rides with Mom, and visiting his favorite market, where he enjoys baked goods and flowers. He's the center of attention wherever he goes and kids love him. He also has two doggie friends, Olive and Baci.

For Frankie, life is beautiful, playing with his friends and soaking up the warm sun on the grass.

Sadness eventually knocks on the door: Cassie, his doggie sister, falls ill and passes away. But as it's often the case, the bad thing brings up a good thing, and soon Kylie, a labrador retriever puppy, comes into their lives. All seems perfect for a while...

Then the unthinkable happens: Frankie has a terrible accident. He suffers a spinal injury. Will Frankie walk again? Will he overcome his handicap? Will he be happy again?

Frankie's story is uplifting and inspiring! It is the perfect book to read to children in order to teach them not only how to overcome challenges, but also about compassion and the handicap. I found the illustrations, which appear to be computer enhanced, original and delightful in a simple, very modern way. The colors are bright and cheerful. This is the kind of story that may be enjoyed by both children and adults alike, especially by those people who love dogs. The book is longer than your standard picture book and has lots of text, so while you may not be able to finish it in one sitting as a bedtime story, you can read it to kids in short installments.

--Mayra Calvani, Mayra's Secret Bookcase

Frankie is like any other dachshund or wiener dog. She loves her new home, enjoys playing in the yard, going to the market and sleeping. But tragedy strikes when she is six years old and her owners are out of town.

Frankie survives a horrible accident but is left unable to use her back legs. Though she attempts physical therapy, it becomes clear that her legs will never work again. Frankie and her owners overcome this obstacle as well and purchase a customized cart for Frankie's back legs. Through hard work, pain and dedication, Frankie learns to walk using the cart and wheels attached to her little body.

Inspiring, refreshing and extremely kid-friendly, this book is a great book to introduce children to disability in a friendly, non-threatening way. The illustrations are beautiful and yet simple. Parents can enjoy sitting down to read this to their younger children and upper elementary school can read the book alone without much difficulty.

Armchair Interviews says: Frankie, The Walk `N Roll Dog is a wonderful book.

Frankie is a dog with a lot of derring do who helps others eagerly and effectivelty. The art work supports the story beautifully and it is a good read for the smallest child to the eldest senior. Inspires us all and reminds us we should keep going and keep giving back.

For children and adults of all ages, this precious and deeply touching book is written straight from the heart. I loved it so much, I couldn't wait to read its companion book (also wonderful!) and start suggesting both to other pet parent friends. All of us are at least a little "flawed", but as our dogs so thoroughly exemplify, life is always perfect and joyful no matter what the outside circumstances. Frankie and his mom, Barbara, are a shining example.

Creatively spoken in Frankie's voice in a way that will charm children, Barbara Techel's determined and tender spirit shines through in her love and commitment to Frankie. The deep connection they share leaps from the pages of this heart warming book.

This is an inspirational true story for anyone who has had to overcome adversity. Brightly illustrated, Frankie will appeal to children and dog lovers of all ages. Children will be exposed to some of the realities of life, including handicapped people and animals, and even to death when Barbara's special heart dog Cassie dies, in a simple, non-threatening manner that teaches compassion.

Any person struggling with his/her own mobility impairment, or with a disabled pet will be inspired by Frankie and Barbara's uplifting message. The bonded pair transforms sadness and hopelessness from Frankie's tragedy into a zest as and passion for their new life mission together.

This story of dedication and perseverance can bring hope and joy to broken hearts. Not only is Frankie The Walk `N Roll Dog a great gift book, Barbara and Frankie have given a gift to all handicapped pets, their people, and veterinarians by teaching them how paralyzed dogs can lead normal, happy lives with the help of wheels so they can walk `n roll like Frankie!

Dawn Kairns
Author of MAGGIE: the dog who changed my life: A Story of Love

This is a true, inspirational story about a dachshund whose life changed forever when she ruptured a disk in her lower back and became paralyzed in her hind legs. After three months of physical therapy and acupuncture, it was determined that she would not walk again, and she was custom fitted for a dog cart, which is the canine version of a wheelchair. It doesn't take long for Frankie to adjust to her new wheels and she continues to joyfully roll through life.

This heartwarming and moving story is told from Frankie's point of view. While written for children, it's a story that will appeal to animal lovers of all ages. Along with beautiful illustrations, the book shows us, through the example of this high-spirited little dog, that it is possible to overcome any challenge and reclaim a joy for life despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and found myself very moved. The combination of the author's beautiful words and the wonderful illustations pack quite an emotional punch!

FRANKIE THE WALK 'N ROLL DOG by Barbara Gail Techel and illustrated by Victoria Kay Lieffring is a true story about a miniature dachshund who becomes paralyzed and learns to walk again with the help of a cart with wheels. It is a very heart-warming read, and kids will fall in love with Frankie. This book has already won numerous awards including a National Best Book Award by USA Book News, an Indie Excellence Awards Finalist, and an Editors Choice Award from Allbooks Review.

Since the story is told by the dog Frankie, I think children will especially like getting Frankie's insight into her life. The book begins when Frankie is just a puppy and gets adopted by her Mom Barbara. Frankie shows the children how normal her life was prior to the accident that left her crippled. Frankie then explains how she got hurt, her attempts at rehabilitation, and eventually her ability to lead a normal life again!

I really like the positive messages in this story. Frankie's story tells us that good things can come out of bad. Even though Frankie was paralyzed, her owners found a creative way to give her a normal and happy life. I think this story will also give children a better understanding of disabilities and hopefully give them more compassion to those who are less fortunate. In addition, I liked that the book showed how hard Frankie had to work in therapy while trying to recover from her injuries. This book definitely gives children and parents (or teachers) some wonderful things to discuss.

Late last year, Frankie and her owner became a registered therapy dog team. They work with the elderly, hospital and hospice patients. I think it's absolutely wonderful that they are helping to improve people's lives while also sharing their message. I wouldn't be surprised if Frankie decides to "write" another book about her new experiences as a therapy dog.

There is a fantastic website devoted to Frankie. You can order the book or even an activity book; and you can sign up free gifts. While you are there, you can also find resources that will tell you more about living with handicapped pets. There are also links to Ms. Techel's blog as well as lots of media information.

While I really liked the overall messages in this book, I wish that this book would have been a little shorter. I think my son who is almost five is the perfect age for this book; however, it ran on the long side for him. This picture book was almost 50 pages and there was a lot of text on each page. He wasn't able to sit through the book in one sitting and I even found him losing interest on the pages with lots of words. It's possible that my little guy is the only kid who had these issues, but I would have liked to have seen a book that was better suited for reading aloud in the classroom because I do think this book has so many valuable lessons.

When I asked my son to tell me what happened in the book, he did understand the entire story. He loved that Frankie "got wheels" and was able to play again; and he also laughed at a few of the stories about Frankie (especially the ones about potty training.) Without a doubt, his favorite thing about this book was the postcard that came inside of it. This postcard had a picture of Frankie dressed up as a hot dog for Halloween -- with his wheels, he was an actual Weiner-mobile! My son could not stop laughing!

I definitely recommend FRANKIE THE WALK 'N ROLL DOG if you are looking for a book that explains disabilities and how to overcome them. It is a cute story that will also touch your heart.

A well-told story from Frankie's POV - we journey with Frankie through her whole ordeal. Definitely an inspirational story. Wonderful illustrations. One of my favorites.

A heartwarming story written with so much empathy and tenderness touching on emotions and challenges which all children face in the world, not just those with physical disabilities. Barbara's love for all her pets shines through although obviously this is about Frankie the dachshund. To write about the death of Frankie's sister in a children's book could be challenged, but Barbara wrote with love, honesty and simplicity on a subject which is part of everyday life and which children would read without all the adult hang-ups that death brings.

The part where Frankie is in hospital on his own and Barbara is rushing home to be with him brought tears to my eyes. As did the page where Frankie is off to the market again for the first time with his new wheels and Barbara is so nervous on his behalf in case anyone makes fun of him. Every parent can surely empathise with this when we take our children to school on a daily basis and hope that they won't be made fun of.

This book will be kept to read to any future grandchildren. Frankie's story has touched my heart, what a brave dachshund and dedicated owner.

I bought this book for my daughter who is autistic and it didn't hurt that we two doxies. I bought the book more as a way to show my daughter she can overcome her special needs as Frankie did in the book. I was a little surprised at some of the bluntness of the book with relation to some of Frankie's "siblings" and what happens to them. Overall my daughter and I enjoyed reading it together with Gracie and Ryno in our laps!