Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Stanley's Little Sister (Stanley (Kids Can Press))
Illustrator: Bill Slavin
Picture Book Series
For ages 4 to 8
Kids Can Press, 2010 ISBN: 978-1554534876
Stanley the dog is much put out because his people have brought home a cat, and they did so without even asking Stanley for his opinion. Stanley goes up to the cat to give her a “great big, friendly sniff,” and she smacks hard across the nose. He offers the cat the figurative paw of friendship and she hits him! Where is the justice in this? Stanley decides that he is not going to take this insult lying down, and he proceeds to chase the cat. Of course, Stanley gets punished.
After discussing the matter with his dog park pals, Stanley decides to try again. He discovers that cats don’t understand dog talk, so Stanley tries a lick. “Everyone likes a lick,” he says. No, Stanley, not everyone likes a lick.
Again and again Stanley tries to befriend the cat, and again and again he ends up chasing her and getting punished. What is Stanley going to do?
In this wonderful addition to the Stanley series, Linda Bailey explores the nature of a friendship that develops between two very different individuals. Stanley’s sweet and somewhat bumbling approach to make friends with the cat is deliciously funny and heartwarming. Viva Stanley!
