First Dog Fala
Through the life of Murry the Outlaw of Fala Hill, aka Fala, FDR’s black Scottish terrier, children get a glimpse into life at the White House during the five years Fala lived there. The narrative alternates between Fala’s antics on his own—chasing butterflies in the yard outside FDR’s office, escaping to roam the streets of Washington—and the role Fala played in FDR’s life. A two-sentence afterword with a photo of the statue of FDR and Fala in Washington completes the book. An attractive design with portrait-like illustrations in muted, rich colors gives Fala’s story a dignified look. The amiable text combined with the handsome illustrations and design will draw children into this account of a real charmer and might encourage them to seek out one of the many books about other White House pets or more information about the Roosevelts and their time. Preschool-Grade 3. --Randall Enos