A Book of Dogs (and other canines) by Katie Viggers offers young readers and
entertaining and informative look at canines—familiar and exotic.
An introduction
reminds readers that while all dogs are canines; not all canines are dogs. In
fact, there are 30 species ranging from those we keep as pets to wolves,
coyotes, jackals, foxes and wild dogs.
Pet dogs
receive the most attention in six double-page spreads that discuss breeds by
group: Working, Herding, Hound, Sporting, Toy, and Terriers. These are six of
the seven groups recognized by the American Kennel Club. I’m curious as to why
the author omitted the non-sporting group which includes the easily recognized poodle,
bulldog, Dalmatian, and other breeds that readers would find less-familiar.
The second half
of the book addresses several other interesting topics. First there’s a
exploration of wild canines with a look at representative species like gray
wolf, arctic wolf, black-backed jackal, and coyote. The author features 9 of
the 30 breeds of fox and devotes attention to wild dogs—dingo, African painted
dog and others. She also offers a humorous look at racoon dogs vs racoons, and
reminds the audience not to be confused by the term prairie dog.
The book
concludes with a variety of useful topics. There’s information on the
importance of the many different jobs dogs perform for people such as rescue or
therapy and service in the military. The many different ways in which dogs
communicate through body language and vocalization receives thoughtful
attention. Agility training receives a nod and the book closes with a map
showing the general ranges of wild canines.
The language is
both informative and the conversational tone makes it an easy read. The
illustrations utilize sidebars, and colored text boxes to hold reader attention
and provide visual interest.
For ages 4-6.
Recommended as
an introduction to the subject for young readers.
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