Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Bernard, a shy hound with soulful eyes and poignantly long ears, is the manager of a pool that hosts an annual global dog diving competition (humans and other species are welcome to cheer from the stands). He's devoted years to secretly observing the divers and practicing alone late at night, yet whenever he thinks about competing, "his knees started knocking, his heart went thump-thump." Finally, he summons enough courage to don a coordinated green-and-white diving outfit, and with an in-the-nick-of-time, empathic assist from a top hound diver named Perrie ("She'd been really shy once/ and knew how it felt./ Seeing Bernard tremble just made her heart melt"), he makes the jump (his ears trailing behind) and wins a gold star. Stickley (Bake Like Mommy) strikes an offbeat vibe by combining collage with textured paints and loose sketches: one spread portrays the canine competitors disembarking from a white plane on a pink runway, bringing to mind the arrival of 1960s rock stars. The "you go, dog" message is familiar, but the quirky images and earnest protagonist should set tails wagging. Ages 3--up. (Apr.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2--Bernard is a floppy-eared hound who works as the manager at an indoor pool. He longs to become a diver, like the ones he watches practice each day. At night after the pool closes, Bernard works on his technique, but on the day of the big competition, he is too frightened to perform, until his friend Perrie encourages him to take a chance and his efforts are rewarded with a gold star--demonstrating that following one's passion pays off. The rhyming story is full of heart, and Bernard absolutely embodies the phrase puppy-dog eyes. Full-page illustrations contrast with pages divided into comic book--esque panels. Clever scenes of diving dogs add personality and charm. VERDICT This lovable story about doing one's best, with support from friends, is a great read for any dog lover.--Kaitlin Malixi, Kensington Health Sciences Academy, Philadelphia
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
In this British import, the canine manager of a swimming pool enters a diving contest and overcomes his fear of the high diving board. Bernard is a basset hound who manages the pool by day and secretly practices diving by himself at night. When elite dog divers gather for the pool's annual competition, Bernard somehow signs up to participate. When it is his turn to dive, however, Bernard is too nervous to even try to participate in the first round. He has another chance in the second heat and finds encouragement from his new friend, a female German wirehaired pointer and accomplished diver named Perrie Piccalilli. Bernard completes his dive with somersaults, spirals, and spins, and he receives a special gold-star award for his efforts. The humorous, rhyming text is uneven in quality, with some lines spot-on in dramatic cadence and a few word pairs that break the rhythm or stretch for meaning and/or rhyme. The divers are a diverse cast of canines, including many breeds and both males and females. The audience for the competition includes other kinds of animals and people of many races. Mixed-media illustrations with collage elements have a loose, impressionistic effect and include endearing expressions on Bernard's anxious face. An enticing cover shows Bernard diving into the pool; a hand-scrawled title in what looks like black crayon attracts with its naïve charm. Bernard's conquest of his inner fear stands out as a quiet triumph. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
