Lisa Papp, Madeline Finn and the Library Dog, Walker Books Australia, 1 Sept 2017, 32pp., $24.99 (hbk), ISBN: 9781910646328
Madeline Finn does not like to read – and she especially dislikes reading out loud. The words become tangled, and the children listening giggle when she stumbles – and no matter how hard she tries, she just can’t get a star from her teacher – only hearts, which say ‘keep trying.’
Luckily for Madeline, when her mother takes her to the library she meets Bonnie, who is a very good listener. Bonnie never laughs when she makes a mistake, and she sits quietly, encouraging Madeline to continue reading aloud, even when the words won’t come out right. Bonnie is a library dog – and this story shares the gentle way that dogs can encourage those who struggle with reading, offering unlimited patience and unconditional affection.
Having children read to dogs is a growing strategy for encouraging reluctant readers, and this book is a beautiful way to introduce the idea. Whether at home, school or in a public library setting, pups make the perfect partner for read-alouds. Just one look at the double page spread in this picture book which features children sitting scattered around the room, with their reading dogs gazing at them or sitting nearby will melt anyone’s heart! The dogs illustrated are all rescues, which adds even more emotion to the picture!
With soft illustrations and a simple story with a surprise ending, Madeline Finn and the Library Dog is perfect for sharing before bedtime or in a story circle, with children aged between 4 and 7. It is a book with a purpose, and the story is not particularly deep, but anything which may encourage reluctant readers to pick up a book is worthwhile!
Reviewed by Kay Oddone
