Waggit Forever

Frank Hodge — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 20:25:11 +0000

I must admit I have never been one for series. I seem to like my stories all tied up in one neat package. However, I have to make an exception when it comes to the series by Peter Howe. The books about Waggit , the abandoned dog, have held me spellbound through all three volumes. The third book WAGGIT FOREVER by Peter Howe, drawings by Omar Rayyan (HarperCollins, 2020, $16.99. May 2010) finds Waggit and the other dogs in their family being forced to leave their shelter in the city park. It seems foodstuffs are becoming more and more scarce so the dogs will soon be forced to scavenge outside the safety of the large park. On the advice of a city dog group’s leader, Waggit’s group is advised to leave and journey through the dangerous city to another much larger and more remote park facility. They will be escorted in groups to avoid any contacts with the humans, particularly the dreaded dog-wardens.

Needless to say this journey is fraught with dangers. Many of the dogs are older now and travel is very difficult. At one point in the story
an abandoned skate board is discovered and ultimately used to transport an ailing member. They make the trip safely through the intervention of their long standing friendship with a financially well-off semi- derelict old lady. She speaks dog language and is able to secure veterinary help for the injured leader shortly before they arrive at their new home.

During the leader’s absence, Waggit is forced to assume the role. While he enjoys the adulation, he regrets terribly the loss of privacy. When the leader returns all healed and ready to resume his role, Waggit is happy and sets about exploring and searching for other lost and thrown away dogs.

The reader leaves each volume of this series hopeful and happy. The earlier books are WAGGIT’S TALE and WAGGIT’S AGAIN. These would make tremendous readalouds for grades 3 through 5 or even 6th. It is a series so well crafted with humor, suspense and loving characters . If a child is breathing, I can almost guarantee he/she will fall in love completely with Waggit.

The Bored Book

Frank Hodge — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:00:02 +0000

Wordless picture books were a popular trend when I opened shop in 1982. They have continued since on what I would call a lesser degree. However, a new and exciting wordless book is now available. THE BORED BOOK by David Michael Slater, illustrations by Doug Keith (Simply Read Books, 2009, $16.95) opens in a living room scene where an adult and two children are spending an afternoon. The adult is quietly reading as the two children are engaged in physical play. The adult moves a bookcase exposing a set of steps. The children scramble up the stairs to find them selves in a dusty attic filled with bookshelves. When the children take THE BORED BOOK from the shelf the black and white illustrations turn to color and the adventure begins. When they have experienced a series of harrowing adventures, the children return to the first room with the adult. Now they find the the books of the adventures they have experienced. Books like TREASURE ISLAND and THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME.

The artwork here is spectacular and sweeping in its scope. The dream sequences are one part frightening but more mystical in nature. They compel the reader to turn the page anticipating and questioning, what’s next? A most satisfying read, believe me.
Picture book. Available now.

Hodge-Podge Books » adventure

Waggit Forever

The Bored Book