Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Poodle and Hound
Illustrator: Mitch Vane
Fiction
For ages 6 to 8
Charlesbridge Publishing, 2009 ISBN: 978-1580893220
Poodle has decided that she really needs to get her hair done, so she goes to the beauty salon and emerges some time later with trimmed pom-poms that are quite lovely. Poodle knows that she looks “elegant,” so she decides not to go home. Her housemate Hound is a good fellow but he really does not appreciate beauty. Poodle feels the need to be seen and admired, so she goes to the Ritz for tea.
Poodle situates herself at the perfect table where she can be seen by all and is all set to enjoy her tea and cookies. There is a problem though; she has no one to talk to, and when she starts talking to herself, the two corgis at the nearby table stare at her. Poodle should be enjoying herself, but instead she ends up feeling very glum indeed. Would she be better off if she went home?
In this delightful chapter book young readers will meet two dogs who are not alike in many ways and yet who find a way to make their friendship work. Children will enjoy seeing how the friends solve their problems, and they will come to appreciate that the lives of both dogs are happier because they have each other.
With its three short chapters, amusing illustrations, and clever stories, this book is perfect for young readers who are starting to read longer books with chapters.
