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AUSSIE DOG – ANOTHER GREAT ‘MATE’
by Dee White - April 6th, 2011
Dogs seem to be a popular feature of kid’s books lately and being a dog lover from way back, I can see why.
Aussie Dog is a new book by Eleanor Nillson and Beth Horling from Scholastic’s Mate’s series.
I think every kid has a dream dog (mine was a dalmation) and Sophie is no exception. She wants a Kelpie. She already has a name picked out (Red) and has been collecting a pile of sticks to throw to her pooch when she gets it.
Red the Kelpie is on Sophie’s birthday and her Christmas wish list (just to make sure).
But things don’t go quite according to plan. For starters, Mum and Dad are adamant about ‘no Kelpie’, and then Mrs Kirsch from next door gets sick and Sophie is charged with the task of looking after Mrs Kirsch’s dog, Boris. At first Sophie resists. Boris is not the dog she wanted. He is not a fit, fast dog and he doesn’t fetch sticks.
He is a small, scruffy, not very fast Australian Silky Terrier. But Boris is loyal and persistent and affectionate and desperately missing Mrs Kirsch and somehow he manages to worm his way into Sophie’s heart.
Aussie Dog is another gentle story for 6-8 year-old readers. Beth Norling’s simple but expressive colour illustrations add layers to the text.
Aussie Dog introduces some great new vocabulary to young readers and Teacher’s notes are available at http://www.scholastic.com.au/schools/education/teacherresources/assets/pdfs/AussieDog.pdf
Tags: Aussie Dog, Beth Norling, Eleanor Nilsson, Mates
