2 out of 4 stars
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Come meet two adorable little dogs, Sugar and Cookie, in Susan Marie Chapman’s children’s nonfiction text, Love, Sugar & Cookie.
Sugar and Cookie are twin sisters that share several similarities and yet they are very different. While Sugar eats very fast and doesn’t enjoy walks, Cookie takes her time eating and loves to run. At the end of the day, though, the two small dogs have much love and care for one another.
This was an interesting tale about these two dogs. On the positive side, the real-life pictures included were adorable and the fluffiness of Sugar and Cookie were very visible. Undoubtedly, many children will gush over their petite size and their silliness. While reading, the author also clearly demonstrates her love and care for both Sugar and Cookie.
On the other hand, the writing style left a lot to be desired. Though I can see how the simplistic approach to writing can be appealing for some children, I’m afraid I cannot see it holding the attention of many. The text was very rigid and utilized the “tell, not show” approach. In addition, there was a missed opportunity for children to be able to expand their learning. For instance, the breed of Sugar and Cookie was missing.
I also found it off-putting to have every letter of every word capitalized throughout the length of the text. This can send a confusing and incorrect message to children in the proper way of writing. Unfortunately, there were also some errors while reading, which again can harm children’s ability to write properly.
As a fair warning for young readers, the word, “hates”, is used once and there is a mention of “boyfriends”. Being a teacher, “hate” is a word I tend to avoid using and “boyfriends” is a topic that may not be appropriate to discuss with young children.
When looking at the premise, some children will gravitate toward the straightforwardness of Love, Sugar & Cookie. Nonetheless, with its stiff writing, the included errors, and some word choices, I grant this book a 2 out of 4 stars. The simplicity of the text would be best suited for toddlers and preschool-aged children.
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Love, Sugar & Cookie
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