Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
The Dog who thought he was Santa
Fiction
For ages 8 to 12
Aladdin, 2007 ISBN: 978-1416948162
For some reason, things do not feel right in Devlin Hollow. Though Christmas is just a few days away, Don Franklin cannot seem to get into the Christmas swing of things. People are worried about what will happen with the mine. Will the east shafts of the mine be closed down because of safety issues? Should they bring in the people from the Bureau of Mines to inspect the shafts? If these shafts do close down will people lose their jobs? How will people pay for Christmas meals and gifts if there is less work?
To make matters worse, Don's sister Susan refuses to tell anyone what she wants for Christmas. No matter what Don and his parents do, Susan refuses to say. Don tries every trick he can think of to get her to tell him, but nothing works. And, to top things off, Don wonders if he will get what he wants for Christmas, a fancy fishing reel that he has wanted for ages
The family dog, a large bloodhound called Frank, watches the goings on with concern. He does not understand this human tendency to worry about things all the time. Being a very sensitive dog, Frank can pick up all the emotion smells that come off people, and he does not like the way Don and his family are giving off such unhappy aromas. Something has to be done, but what?
In this delightful holiday story readers are taken to mining country in Oklahoma in the 1950's. As they get into the story readers will come to appreciate how hard mining life was back then. They will get to meet a family whose members care and worry about one another. And they will get to meet a dog who has a unique way of looking at the world.
With its touch of Christmas magic and its warm message of hope and love, this is a story that readers will come back to again and again.
