Rugby and Rosie [Hardcover]

Nan Parson Rossiter (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up

Rugby, the family's beloved Labrador retriever, finds himself unhappy with the new house guest, Rosie, a puppy brought home to be trained as a guide dog, but they soon become the closest of friends, until she has to leave to do the important work for which she is trained.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-3?A young boy and his dog, Rugby, welcome a new puppy that will live with them for a year before leaving to train as a guide dog. The simple text is interspersed with brief facts about guide dogs; a full-page afterword provides a more complete overview and an address to write to for more information. The flat declarative sentences describe the characters' activities and feelings, but do not evoke emotion or drama. Rossiter has a stronger sense of design and pattern than of illustration. The pictures, generally one to a page, follow the text but are infused with a reddish light that tends to rob them of the feeling of space. The people seem awkward and posed, although a few of the depictions of the two dogs will appeal to young animal lovers. While this book doesn't rise to the level of a good picture storybook, it does provide an adequate, albeit abbreviated, introduction to raising a guide dog. Caroline Arnold's A Guide Dog Puppy Grows Up (Harcourt, 1991) gives a more complete view of the process by following one dog from puppyhood to graduation and includes lively and appealing photographs.?Karen James, Louisville Free Public Library, KY
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

Rossiter's first book is a moving and informative account of a family and the puppy they raise for a year, until she is old enough to train to become a guide dog. Rosie is a yellow Labrador retriever puppy, and Rugby is the family's chocolate Lab. The story is told by a boy who is best friends with both of them. Boys and dogs spend hours playing together, but Rosie gets special training, too. Her family is strict with her about begging at the table or jumping up on people; they help her grow accustomed to traffic and commotion by taking her downtown to stores, on city buses, and other places her new owner will need her. Particularly well-limned are the boy's mixed feelings as Rosie's departure draws near. He wants her to succeed as a guide dog, but if she fails he'll be able to keep her. When Rosie does leave, it's Rugby, of course, who suffers the most, without an understanding of where his friend has gone. The golden, sun-drenched paintings convey the warmth and love evident in the story, and capture all the action of the two lovable dogs at the story's center. An afterword provides facts on guide dogs and an address to write for more information. A resonant debut. (Picture book. 5-9) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile; 1 edition (March 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525454845
• ISBN-13: 978-0525454847
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,529,474 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great children's book, December 3, 1999

By 

Mia - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rugby and Rosie (Hardcover)

I am a puppy raiser for a service dog organization and frequently take my pups to classrooms to teach. This book is a beautiful introduction to puppy raising, suitable for kindergarten to 4th or 5th grade level. I found the illustrations capture the young children, and the written description remarkably accurate, although the author herself is not a puppy raiser. This book would also make a great gift for any child that is a dog lover. After I first saw this book, I purchased ten copies; I am now down to my last two.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very nice childrens book. Encourages community service., May 7, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Rugby and Rosie (Hardcover)

This book was read to a kindergarten class in NJ. The children enjoyed both the story and illustrations. Following the story, the children were introduced to an actual Seeing Eye puppy that we are raising. It was a great opportunity for the children to learn how animals are used to help others.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An enjoyable and educational book., January 21, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Rugby and Rosie (Hardcover)

We just adopted our own guide-dog puppy so we truly enjoyed reading this book. It's very well written, wonderful illustrations and very true-to-life. It helped my young children understand the very process we will be going through in the upcoming year with our adorable golden retriever puppy. Though our dog is being trained to help with the handicapped (not the blind as in the book), the training is basically the same. A great book for kids -- whether or not you are training a very special puppy!