Two prime examples of amazing animals who use their special “tail-wagging treatment” to lift the spirits of very ill kids. Both Mogie and Doctor White seem to know which of the patients needs their attention the most and they get busy delivering their own brand of TLC.
Appelt, Kathi. Mogie: The Heart of the House. illus. by Marc Rosenthal. 40p. S. & S./Atheneum. Jun. 2014. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781442480544; ebk. $10.99. ISBN 9781442480551.
PreS-Gr 3 –Based on a true story, this tale introduces readers to Mogie, a dog who becomes an inspiration to children in a Ronald McDonald House. Gage and his family move to the house after the boy becomes sick. There are rules to help the children get better, including “no puppies!” In a nearby town, a litter of puppies is born. Two of them become service dogs, three train for Search-and-Rescue, and four are groomed for the show ring. Mogie, however, fails at each of these endeavors because he breaks all the rules. This is why he does so well at the Ronald McDonald House. He walks right in and meets Gage. Slowly, Mogie helps him feel better. The boy eventually gets to go home, but there are more children there for Mogie to help. This heartwarming story will satisfy animal lovers and anyone who enjoys a happy ending. The illustrations, rendered in pencil and charcoal, and digitally, complement the story. Mogie is adorable; it’s no wonder that he has a positive affect on Gage and the other children. The book makes good use of negative space, and page layouts vary to keep visual interest. This title would work well as a read-aloud and as an excellent choice for independent reading.
Goodall, Jane. Doctor White. illus. by Julie Litty. 32p. Minedition. 2014. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9789888240746.
PreS-Gr 2 –Based on the true story of a little white dog adopted by a London children’s hospital, this affecting picture book pays tribute to the healing power of the human-animal bond. Doctor White is more than a stray dog. He’s a beacon of hope to the children he visits and nothing short of a miracle to the hospital staff for the way he instinctively knows which children are the sickest and stays by their sides until they grow well. But when the health inspector turns him out, Doctor White is cut off from his patients—until the health inspector’s own daughter falls ill and a nurse breaks the rules to bring Doctor White’s healing touch to her. As his daughter recovers, the health inspector himself returns Doctor White’s bowl to the hospital kitchen. The straightforward text never lapses into cuteness or anthropomorphism, and Litty’s sketchy watercolors employ a faded palette that evokes a sense of old photographs, rendering the story immediate yet giving it a sense of history.
We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing
Add Comment :-
Be the first reader to comment.
Comment Policy:
Comment should not be empty !!!