The Dog Sitter
Sue Walker
Beth Norling

Omnibus 2003
52pp., pbk., $9.95
1862915571

Sue Walker, author, and Beth Norling, illustrator, unite to make a newly published book about a keen, young boy, Jack, who ‘needs’ a dog. Though, of course his firm parents won’t let him, he still finds a way to get one.

There’s a pet store nearby, and Jack just happens to walk by it. “Dog sitter wanted for weekend.” Jack leaps with joy…but will it be all love and play? Samson (the dog) is big, black and destructive. He will change Jack’s opinion with loving dogs forever.

This is a ‘situation’ that happens quite often for parents. One where children want something without understanding the responsibilities and of course the long term conditions that go with a pet.
I think, even though this book is a children’s book, it has a very smart message to it: …when you (as a child) like something, see if you can first try it out. It may mean the difference between making a good/right or a bad/wrong choice – which can’t easily be changed. Although it wasn’t clearly stated as that in this book, I could sense it meant it.

This book, had no descriptive language whatsoever, the only way I knew how anything looked like is by looking at the mini, black and white drawings on every page. It’s important for a young child to have a picture in his/her head, that way they can imagine things more and that way they like the story more.

The age group for this book is around the five to nine-year-olds.
Because I am older than this age group it was hard to judge this book, if I would have been younger, I’d have enjoyed it more.

Jazz 12 North Coast NSW