Review of Mr. McTavish Goes to the Library
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Nabiha Qureshi
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Review of Mr. McTavish Goes to the Library
[Following is a volunteer review of "Mr. McTavish Goes to the Library" by Bon Kay.]
Mr. McTavish Goes to the Library by Bon Kay is a children's book based on a dog she owned, her beloved Scotty McTavish. Kay uses her dog as a means to provide children with adventures, ensuring they have a fun time. She hopes that her series will be an inspiration for others.
Furthermore, as the first in the series, Mr. McTavish takes children out on an adventure to a special place. Mr. McTavish expresses curiosity, a trait common in many young children, as he narrates his experience of being taken out for a ride with his owner. He comments on everything and anything and often goes on a tangent, which is incredibly entertaining. Everything is wondrous to him, and that wonder is typical of children. I liked these particular traits Bon Kay depicted because while they are true of dogs, they can also help children find similarities between themselves and the characters.
I thought the illustrations were delightful. The colors were vibrant, and the depictions of Mr. McTavish and his owner, Gma, were warm. Children are likely to appreciate characters who look soft, and Gma, with her frail appearance and the smile she wears, fits the rubric. And, considering Mr. McTavish adores her, that's another checkmark. Furthermore, the book provides plenty of illustrations without any dialogue, allowing children to fill in the blanks themselves. Children can also have, at least, a little understanding of what's going on, even if they pay no attention to the illustrations. I believe that's a critical aspect of the story, and allowing children who can't read yet to browse through the book would immensely help with their imagination.
However, despite what I enjoyed about the book, I felt the book lacked emotion. Although I found Mr. McTavish adorable, I believe it's more because of the art than his inner ramblings. These ramblings were fast and bland, even when Mr. McTavish expressed joy and excitement. His narration seemed like a recap of events. In short, it wasn't engaging enough for me, and I read it without any sentiments.
Because of the reasons I provided, I give this book four out of five stars. I recommend it to guardians of kindergartners for its potential to enhance children's imaginations.
******
Mr. McTavish Goes to the Library
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Mr. McTavish Goes to the Library by Bon Kay is a children's book based on a dog she owned, her beloved Scotty McTavish. Kay uses her dog as a means to provide children with adventures, ensuring they have a fun time. She hopes that her series will be an inspiration for others.
Furthermore, as the first in the series, Mr. McTavish takes children out on an adventure to a special place. Mr. McTavish expresses curiosity, a trait common in many young children, as he narrates his experience of being taken out for a ride with his owner. He comments on everything and anything and often goes on a tangent, which is incredibly entertaining. Everything is wondrous to him, and that wonder is typical of children. I liked these particular traits Bon Kay depicted because while they are true of dogs, they can also help children find similarities between themselves and the characters.
I thought the illustrations were delightful. The colors were vibrant, and the depictions of Mr. McTavish and his owner, Gma, were warm. Children are likely to appreciate characters who look soft, and Gma, with her frail appearance and the smile she wears, fits the rubric. And, considering Mr. McTavish adores her, that's another checkmark. Furthermore, the book provides plenty of illustrations without any dialogue, allowing children to fill in the blanks themselves. Children can also have, at least, a little understanding of what's going on, even if they pay no attention to the illustrations. I believe that's a critical aspect of the story, and allowing children who can't read yet to browse through the book would immensely help with their imagination.
However, despite what I enjoyed about the book, I felt the book lacked emotion. Although I found Mr. McTavish adorable, I believe it's more because of the art than his inner ramblings. These ramblings were fast and bland, even when Mr. McTavish expressed joy and excitement. His narration seemed like a recap of events. In short, it wasn't engaging enough for me, and I read it without any sentiments.
Because of the reasons I provided, I give this book four out of five stars. I recommend it to guardians of kindergartners for its potential to enhance children's imaginations.
******
Mr. McTavish Goes to the Library
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
