3 out of 4 stars
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The Little Red Dog in a Box tells the tale of Cody, a red dachshund puppy who was found abandoned in a box with three biscuits and a towel. The man who found him took the pup to his sister, who was thinking of adopting a dog at that time. Cody was immediately adopted by Mimi. Cody narrates the story of his life with Mimi. He talks about his likes and dislikes, his trips to the vet, meeting Mimi’s relatives, and all of the little adventures he embarked on during his first year. This unique children’s story was written by Tori Carrato.
This book was an enjoyable read because the story flowed logically from the beginning to the end. Cody first described his new home and owners before delving into his experiences. Additionally, the book included photos in almost every chapter. This was a nice touch because the pictures divided the text which made it easier to read. I also felt like I could connect with the characters through the photos, especially the cat, Jag, who was described as an unfriendly and willful creature. In one photo, he is standing in defiance on top of a table with his tail in the air. I thought that this picture truly represented Jag’s personality.
I also liked that the story was told through Cody’s perspective. His thoughts, feelings, and curiosity were portrayed very well. For instance, his questions and concerns surrounding his first visit to the vet accurately depicted the anxiety that most pets experience when they are taken there. Cody also spoke about his dislike for vehicles which passed by, such as the garbage truck and motorcycles. To express his dislike, he would bark incessantly until Mimi threatened to smack him with the flyswatter. This made me laugh because I thought of my own pet dog, Vixen, who does the same thing.
Since this book is marketed for children, I was disappointed that there were no children in the story. I think that there should have been at least one child in the story who had an active role with Cody. This would have made the adventures in the book a little more playful. It would also be fun to read about Cody’s thoughts and feelings toward children. If the story was being read to a child, this could have also sparked a conversation about how some dogs react to children. This was the only shortcoming of the book.
I was pleasantly surprised that this book contained only one error - a misspelled name. Despite this, I think the book was professionally edited. Overall, I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. Anyone who owns a dog will enjoy this book. Teens and adults who are contemplating getting a puppy will also benefit from reading this book. However, I am uncertain as to whether children will like the story. They may not understand the term neutering. As I mentioned before, the story also lacked interaction between Cody and children, so young readers may not have a character who they can relate to.
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The Little Red Dog in a Box
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when I get a little money I buy books; and if I have any left l buy food and clothes
