Not Afraid of Dogs
Starred Review.PreSchool-Grade 3–Daniel is the bravest boy in the world, able to face spiders, snakes, and thunderstorms...but he just doesn't like dogs. When his aunt goes on vacation and leaves her pet, Bandit, with his family, he stays in his room and refuses to come out. Later that night, he needs to use the bathroom and is startled by Bandit, who has been frightened by a thunderstorm and is cowering behind the toilet. Daniel's anxiety slowly turns to astonishment as he realizes that he can comfort the pup–and that he does like dogs after all. The boy's connection to Bandit rings absolutely true, as does his insistence on his lack of fear. Day's hilarious illustrations, done in pen and ink with watercolor and gouache, show the truth behind his bluster, starting with the comical cover picture of Daniel climbing a lamppost to avoid a group of passing canines. Text and pictures work on every level, and readers will remember Daniel and Bandit long after they put the book down.–Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MDCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.