CM Magazine: The Strange Adventures of Blue Dog.

________________ CM . . . . Volume VII Number 17 . . . . April 27, 2001

The Strange Adventures of Blue Dog.

Jean Van Leeuwen. Illustrated by Marco Ventura.
New York, NY: Dial Books for Young Readers (Distributed in Canada by McClelland & Stewart, Inc.), 1999.
32 pp., cloth, $24.99.
ISBN 0-8037-1878-0.

Subject Headings:
Dogs-Fiction.
Toys-Fiction.
Farm life-Fiction.

Kindergarten - grade 4 / Ages 5 - 9.

Review by Lisa Sykes.

***1/2 /4

excerpt:

The Strange Adventures of Blue Dog is the tale of a small wooden dog who is part of a miniature farm set. Life on the farm is quiet and predictable for the animals except when Big Billy comes to visit and play.
"One day, Big Billy did an even stranger thing. He lifted Blue Dog up, over the chicken coop, over the barn, higher and higher. Big Billy's fingers opened. All Blue Dog could see was hair and pink cheeks and a giant eye.
'I wish I had a dog just like you,' Big Billy said softly."

After that, Blue Dog becomes Billy's "pet," and together they share many adventures including playing outdoors, going to school and visiting a real farm complete with live animals, barn and hay. The sweet-smelling hay makes the toy farm seem real to Blue Dog, and Billy's dream is realized the next day when he becomes the proud owner of a live dog named Blue. Blue Dog's days become quieter again now that Blue is on the scene, but each night he still rests happily, cupped in Big Billy's hand.

Jean Van Leeuwen's story is filled with rich, detailed language that flows smoothly and provides the reader with a strong sense of mood. For example:

excerpt:

"The moon rose. A soft beam of light reached down from the sky, coming to rest on Big Billy's pillow. Big Billy sighed. And suddenly Blue Dog felt the room flooded with longing."

Ventura's large, bright, bold paintings greatly enhance the story of Blue Dog and are ideal for large-group sharing. While the plot of the story is rather predictable (most readers will guess early on that Billy will get a real dog) and some young readers may find Blue Dog's character confusing (how can he be real but not real?), overall, The Strange Adventures of Blue Dog is an endearing, positive reading and listening experience.

Recommended.

Lisa Sykes, who has worked as an early years teacher and teacher-librarian in Winnipeg, MB, is currently on maternity leave and enjoying her time at home with her two young children.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364

TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THIS ISSUE - April 27, 2001.