PICK OF THE LITERATURE
— by Dr. Donna Phillips
W
elcome to August and
the “Dog Days” — the
hottest period of the year
believed to be named for the rising of
Sirius, the Dog Star. Known as a period
of inactivity and sluggishness, everyone
and everything is looking for a place to
stay cool.
If you find yourself lying around in
the shade or escaping indoors to seek the
comfort of air-conditioning, you might
enjoy reading a good book (or two) and
what better topic than dogs! There are so
many wonderful picture books, fiction,
nonfiction, and chapter books that cele-
brate their many shapes, sizes, purposes,
and valor. Here just some of them for you
to consider.
If your young ones enjoy Paw Pa-
trol, then Heroes at Work (Scholastic,
New York, 2019, $12.99) might be a fun
and imaginative board book to share
24 WNY Family August 2019
with them. As you can imagine, there are
many needs to be met and the pups of
the Paw Patrol are always ready to lend
a hand, or paw, in this case. From the
beach to aid hatching turtles to the moun-
tains to search for snowboarders lost in
an avalanche and everywhere in be-
tween, rescuing a kitten in a tree, aiding a
stranded motorist, or helping to clean up
a city street, they are always there when
they are needed! Soft Paw Patrol Pups
make each page a tactile experience and
the fun rhyme will engage your child’s
listening and language skills.
As has been said, “Dogs are the
reflection of their owners”…or is it the
other way around? Dogs and Their
People (Page Street Kids, Salem, 2019,
$17.99), written and illustrated by Anne
Lambelet, is an imaginative look at this
observation. Lambelet has perfectly cap-
tured the essence of each owner and how
it is reflected in their choice of a com-
panion. It does make one wonder if they
started out that way or if their time to-
gether created similar looks, postures,
and energies. Bouncy puppies for young
children; the stoic demeanor of the prim
and proper; even twins pick different
dogs to suit their own personalities. This
is a perfect book for people watchers and
dog watchers. It will certainly make your
trip to the park in search of shade a more
interesting adventure!
Two Brothers, One Tail (Philomel
Books, New York, 2019, $17.99), written
by Richard T. Morris and illustrated by
Jay Fleck, is an adorable book about the
friendship and love between a dog and
his boy. This tale is told through simple
phrases and rhymes comparing and con-
trasting each in this relationship of love
and protection. The simple illustrations
are the perfect match for this special
bond. The kindness, love, and care is so
obvious that the reader might even begin
to look more closely at their own “best
friend” and how they support each other.
It may even give you a fresh new way to
view the love between your dog and your
children.
Bark in the Park: Poems for Dog
Lovers (Orchard Books, New York, 2019,
$17.99), written by Avery Gorman and il-
lustrated by Hyewon Yum, is a delightful
addition to a trip to the park or a walk in
town. Everywhere we see dogs and their
owners! So many kinds of dogs! Which
one would you choose? Simple rhymes
capture the essence of the breed and give
us a description of its character and pur-
pose. If you are looking for a dog, this
might help you in making a choice. Or
you might even find your own dog in this