Customer Reviews

Hanni and Beth: Safe & Sound

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Review of Hanni and Beth Safe and Sound

Hanni and Beth Safe & Sound is a splendid story of friendship, loyalty, and courage.
Hanni, a Seeing Eye dog, recounts her day as a companion to Beth. Author Beth Finke's blindness occurred in adulthood as a result of diabetes.

Faithful animal stories are not unique. What makes Hanni's story special is the determination and confidence that both characters exhibit as a result of this special relationship. "Blind trust," a cliché that totally describes this relationship, is apparent on each page. Whether Hanni and Beth are dodging garbage cans or traffic, Beth knows that Hanni will do her best to keep them safe.

Anthony Letourneau's illustrations are so life-like that as soon as my students saw the cover of the book they knew immediately it was a book about Beth and Hanni. Beth visited our school last year for an assembly and told her story. The students couldn't wait for her book to come out and were thrilled to see the final copy.

The students were amazed that Beth could lead such a normal life despite her blindness. I think tales where adults are vulnerable (not bumbling fools) help children relate to their own vulnerability in the world. Certainly, if Beth can make it with Hanni's help and her own tenacity, then they can make it too.

Hurray Hanni! Bravo Beth! Thank you for showing us anything is possible.

I love dog books for kids, but this tops anything I've read yet. It tells the story of a working dog, through the dog's eyes! The actual story and illustrations are displayed beautifully for younger children to follow, and there is a great section in the back for the older readers to learn how a Seeing Eye Dog is trained (told through Hanni's doggie journal). Very cool.

Kids love dogs, no doubt. But I do doubt that most kids know anything about this facet of the dog world -- what a guide dog does, how it's trained, how a stranger should interact with it, the special relationship between guide dog and owner. I admit that I didn't know much about these things before I read Finke's book.

Her tone is warm, friendly and educational. The illustrations are beautifully done with a warmth that echoes the author's voice. It's a refreshing take on the dog-as-hero book, of which there are many, and of which too few are as truly unique as this one.

Hanni and Beth Safe & Sound is a children's picturebook about the daily life of seeing eye dog Hanni and her owner. Based on the real-life experience of author, Hanni and Beth Safe and Sound is a wonderful introduction for young people to the rules in how to treat a seeing eye dog; for example, a dog is working when its harness is on, and a working dog should not be petted or distracted. Told from Hanni's point of view, and beautifully illustrated by professional artist Anthony Alex LeTourneau, Hanni and Beth Safe & Sound is enthusiastically recommended for children's library collections.

My son, 7 yrs, got this book for Christmas and he simply loves it. The subject matter is different and interesting and it has created an opportunity for us to talk about all kinds of things (and people) we never thought about. Plus it is fun and sweet! I've already ordered a copy as a birthday present for a friend of his. I could give this book to every child I know. It's well written and illustrated and fun for parents to read (and learn from) as well.

Hanni and Beth: Safe and Sound by Beth Finke is a delightful book about a Seeing Eye dog and her owner, the author, as told by the dog. In warm and straightforward language children (as well as adults) learn about the training, daily responsibilities, and activities of service animals for the blind. Many people don't know it is not okay to pet a working dog.

This book is a must for any houshold with children so that they may grow in knowledge of working dogs and the challenges of people who depend on them to function more independently. The richly colored illustrations by Anthony Alex Letourneau create an inviting atmosphere to share the story with young children; and as the children grow, they will return to enjoy it again and again.

I was planning to send this book to our great-niece for Christmas, but her family visited for Thanksgiving and I couldn't deny myself the pleasure of reading it to her. We read it four times in a row at her request and by the third time, she could answer some questions. I would read part of a sentence and then look at her expectantly, and she could finish it--at least short ones. She especially loved the part about "emptying." She got that really fast. After I said "emptying," I would wait for her to say "pee and poop" in a whisper and with a big grin.

At one point in her visit she said that she was "safe" and I said, "AND?" and she said "sound, just like Hanni and Beth." She also understood the concept of blindness by asking whether Beth could see the other people in the illustrations. Great book for helping children understand the differences among us.

This is an absolutely beautiful children's book. The illustrations are fantastic and the story is very heart-warming. I have read this to my children many times, and they continue to ask for it nightly.

This book is a great way for children to begin to understand what a guide dog does, and the incredible responsibilities that rests on their shoulders. Nicely done!