Review by Booklist Review
In a stone cottage surrounded by rolling hills, two brown-and-white terriers named Jack and Kes live with their owner, a kindly, patient young woman. Jack is a mischievous adventurer, while Kes, his brother, is more of a homebody. One morning, Jack slips out of the house, runs across the fields, and explores the nearby harbor town. As fishermen load equipment onto their boat, the dog sneaks aboard. Later, to his distress, churning waves rock the boat, leaving him cold, wet, hungry, and longing for home. After three nights and days at sea, weary Jack walks back to the cottage and receives a warm welcome, and he never again goes far without his brother and their owner. McLean, an English writer and illustrator who has referred to this picture book as "a prodigal dog story," based it on a dog-sitting experience years ago. The story unfolds in well-phrased, rhythmic lines of text, each ending in a natural-sounding rhyme or near-rhyme. The engaging illustrations help young viewers imagine the story's characters, experiences, and settings. An inviting read-aloud choice.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A pup's wanderlust suddenly gets him into a seafaring predicament. Jack, a curious terrier, loves to explore. So when the wind blows his house's door open one day, the temptation is too great. He scampers outside and trots down the road. As he crests a hill, Jack suddenly sees a vast expanse of sparkling blue. The ocean! After stowing away on a lobster boat, Jack can't wait for an adventure. But then, the sea turns rough: "The sea heaves the boat, and the waves splash the deck. / The rain beats down hard on Jack's back and his neck." Poor Jack. This is not what he had in mind. Luckily the voyage is only a few days long, and the boat returns to the same harbor. Weary, hungry, and downtrodden, Jack slowly limps toward home--a far cry from the exuberant energy of the previous trip on the same path. The artwork's sunny hues match the warmth of the loving reunion between Jack, his light-skinned owner, and his brother, Kes. Employing the many stages of an adventure--quest, drama, return--McLean crafts a brief tale of rolling emotions. Intriguing word choices and varied verses will hold readers' attention, though the rhyming does, at times, hold the narrative back slightly. (This book was reviewed digitally.) For young adventurers and explorers. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
