Janene Cooper (text), Evie Kemp (illus.), A Dog Like That, Long Bay Children’s Books, 1 May 2016, 32pp., $15.99 (pbk), ISBN: 9781760360047
A Dog Like That captures the special bond between a girl and her dog. Her dog is not like other dogs, and does not do things the way he’s supposed to, but despite this, the girl knows that her scruffy and loyal dog is exactly the way he should be.
The collage illustrations are bold and colourful, and portray a range of different dogs. There is no rhyme or rhythm to the text, yet it contains repetition, providing structure to the story. It is full of great descriptive phrases: the perfect opportunity for a young child to learn a range of verbs and adjectives.
A Dog Like That is a fun book and a quick read, best for younger children between 2 and 5 years of age. Being about the special bond between a child and a pet, it’s a book that many children will relate to. It is also a lovely way to encourage children to embrace difference.
Reviewed by Rebecca Blakeney
