Dashing Dog

From School Library Journal PreSchool-Grade 2-Rhyming verse tells the story of a "cleaned up and curlicued" poodle on a seaside jaunt with his human family. "What a delight to be/Greeting a dog that is brushed-up-and-downery/Dare-devil-daring, and dog-about-townery." Like any self-respecting canine, however, dashing dog likes nothing better than to mess with seagulls, seaweed, errant Frisbees, and other four-legged furry friends. "Straggling and salty, and spotted and sandified/Somehow our dog is no longer so dandified." Just when the family is thoroughly exasperated with their pup's antics, baby Betty (the only character with a name) wanders off. Young readers will spot her toddling away in the corner of the page, and so does the pooch, who rescues her as she tumbles into the sea and becomes a hero, "draggling and dripping- but utterly beautiful." Garland's breezy pastel-colored illustrations are a good match for the action. A predictable tale by a prolific author, told with lively and imaginative wordplay.Mary Ann Carcich, Mattituck-Laurel Public Library, Mattituck, NY Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. Product Description Despite his beautiful and perfectly groomed look, Dashing Dog really is just a dog at heart and soon is running free, playing in the mud, and making himself one big mess, yet despite his suddenly sloppy appearance, Dashing Dog's family loves him just the same. About the Author Margaret Mahy has written more than one hundred and fifty books for children and has won many awards. These include two Carnegie Medals (England's highest children's literary honor), as well as numerous citations from the American Library Association. Margaret Mahy lives in New Zealand with her dog, Baxter.