Review by Booklist Review
Gr. 3^-5. In this picture book for older readers with illustrations by Barry Moser, the Hausmans offer a baker's dozen retellings of dog stories they've culled from far-flung sources. There's a creation myth from Africa about a basenji who steals fire for the first man and loses his bark in the bargain. From the mythology of the British Isles comes the tale of an enchanted bloodhound only two inches tall. There are trickster dogs from Japanese, Eskimo, and Native American traditions, enchanted dogs, super dogs, and even a few shaggy dogs. The 13 stories, from as many different cultures, are grouped in six categories, with each story followed by an afterword that provides historical context and commentary. Six of the stories are recycled from the Hausmans' earlier book The Mythology of Dogs (1997), and all of the tales are a bit flat. But the book is so elegantly designed, and Moser's paintings of dogs are so irresistible, that most readers probably won't care. --Michael Cart
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Moser's (My Dog Rosie) luminous watercolors light up this anthology of 13 rarely told folktales that pay homage to canines. Grouped by type ("The Trickster Dog," "The Guardian Dog," and so on), the stories span a wide range of cultures and breeds. From Celtic faery lore, for instance, there's an enchanted bloodhound; from the Eskimos, a husky whose absent-mindedness has cosmic consequences; and from ancient China, a devoted shar-pei who wins the hand of the emperor's daughter. An instructive afterword follows each selection, explaining its origins as well as providing additional facts about the featured dog. The Hausmans' (The Mythology of Dogs) storytelling flows in an unbroken, lyrical stream, right from the poetic introduction ("Step softly now into that fresh dawn, when a man went out for a walk in the light, and found Dog"). Moser's portraits could serve as nature studies, and whether he is depicting a massive rottweiler clenching Thor's hammer in his jaws, a sleek saluki or the soulful eyes of a curly-coated retriever, his watercolors are rooted in realism and lovingly evoked. This book is sheer bliss for dog lovers. Ages 7-up. (Nov.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 2-6-An engaging collection of 13 tales from around the world. The well-written stories are grouped into six categories: "The Creation Dog," "The Trickster Dog," "The Enchanted Dog," "The Guardian Dog," "The Super Dog," and "The Treasure Dog." These divisions give a nice continuity to the tales and provide a sampling of world cultures and myths. Canines are as varied as an Akita in Japan, a Norse rottweiler, a wolfhound in Wales, and a bichon frise in France. Notes on each story offer background and related information; source notes are included at the end. Moser's illustrations are gorgeously rendered in his trademark watercolor style, but they are decorative and don't add anything to the understanding or energy of the selections. The overall design of the book is attractive, with excellent page layout and choices of typefaces and colors. Purchase where dog stories are popular or where readers might be looking for multicultural tales outside the norm.-Cheri Estes, Detroit Country Day School Middle School, Beverly Hills, MI (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
From African creation lore to medieval European tales, this collection of myths and legends includes stories in which dogs steal fire for people, sacrifice their lives protecting their masters, and bring wealth and love to their owners. The rich storytelling is enhanced by Moser's stately paintings. Each tale includes an afterword, commenting on the story and providing information about the breed of dog. Sources are appended. From HORN BOOK Spring 2000, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Man's best friend is at the heart of 13 curious tales culled from worldwide traditions, crossing oceans and time. From Africa to Arabia, China to Japan, the stories span a range in both tone and subject matter. While many of the stories appeared in the Hausmans' The Mythology of Dogs (1997), those regathered here are the archetypal and mythological, the fanciful and magical, including ghost dogs, immortals, and canine heroes who speak and sing, marry princesses, transform, catch flying bullets in their teeth, and recover magic rings. A two-inch-tall faery dog shines in ``King Herla's Hound,'' while the mighty Thor's companion reveals why the watchdog Rottweiler's fierce growl sounds like thunder in the throat in the pourquoi tale ``Thunder Mouth Dog.'' The Hausmans are well-grounded in both folkloric elements and storytelling sensibility, arranging their tales in short chapters such as ``Trickster Dogs,'' ``Enchanted Dogs,'' and ``Guardian Dogs''; they punctuate each with an explanatory, if complex, punchline of sorts. Moser's characteristically striking design portrays the akita and basenji, spaniel and shar-pei as if the dogs posed for portrait sittings. Singular compositions focus on each dog as individual, without ornament or fanfare, as if in sculptural relief, carved against the surrounding vast plane of the page. (notes, sources) (Folklore. 8-14)
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
