Carley Yardley, Dog and the Lost Leg, Walker, 1 July 2015, 32pp., $16.95 (pbk) ISBN 9781925081084
Dog has lost his leg and consequently, his happy jiggle! His friend Fox joins in the quest to find Dog’s missing leg. They seek help from various friends as dog tries on an assortment of legs (and a few tails) before he manages to find what he needs to get his jiggle back. He never does find his missing leg, and the playful resolution of the story draws attention to the created aspect of the characters.
This is a charming book for preschoolers with quirky cut and sewn fabric illustrations to delight young readers as much as the story of dog’s search for his lost leg. The unique fabric collages provide rich texture for the amusing cast of characters and flesh out the gently humorous text. I hope to see more of these characters in future.
Young children are very familiar with losing things and this delightful story opens up creative possibilities for resolution and includes the universal themes of friendship and acceptance of difference.
Reviewed by Debra Tidball