GEUS LIEUR

Bone Dog

One of the rules I live by is not to read anything in which a dog dies, and that includes picture books. I made an exception for Bone Dog, by Caldecott medalist Eric Rohmann. Ella, an old dog, tells Gus, the boy who loves her, that she wont be around much longer. "But no matter what happens, Ill always be with you," she promises. How Ella keeps her promise is the charm behind this picture book, perfect for Halloween, or any old day.

 Although the book might be scary for some young readers (a skeleton crew ambushes Gus in a cemetery), on the whole humor dominates, as when the skeletons tell Gus, "Youve got guts kid...but not for long." And the ending message, that a dogs loyalty knows no bounds, is ultimately reassuring. Rohmanns signature style of dark outlines underscores the dramatic cemetery setting and is guaranteed to send shivers up readers spines. Dont wait for Halloween for this one, check it out now.

Bone Dog
by Eric Rohmann
Roaring Brook Press, 32 pages
Published: July, 2011


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