Kerri Day (text) and Nicky Johnston (illustrator), Run Pups Run, Windy Hollows Books, October 2023, 32 pp., RRP $27.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781921136092
When this young family heads out for a day at the beach they pack everything but the kitchen sink and including their pups. A day of summer adventure is in store for them complete with a wayward kite, building sandcastles, eating ice-cream, and hiding in the sand dunes. Sharing all these adventures makes for a fun filled day.
A fun-loving adventure story to read aloud and share with the whole family. Run Pups Run celebrates the simple joys of childhood and the bond between children and their dogs.
Run Pups Run is a relatable story that when read aloud will provide many opportunities for discussion and sharing of similar experiences. Both children and adults alike. There is a palpable sense of the level of enjoyment being had by all family members and it is impossible not to smile at their antics.
Although there are elements of pattern and some rhyme the text lacks cohesion and flow at times. There is evidence of some carefully chosen words that will resonate with young readers; however, there is also a disparity between the text and the illustrations, for example ‘Cool, ocean ride’ and ‘Home time again’. Who is riding the waves? What is the boy pointing to and what has alerted the dog?
The reader can recognize that this is a family outing and yet it is difficult to determine the structure of the family unit, for example is it only Dad? or both parents – Dad and Mum? The illustrations do not make this clear. There should be a seamless synchrony between the text and the illustrations.
The title Run Pups Run, suggests to the reader that all the dogs will be present in the day’s activities and yet this is not the case. There is one dog, then two dogs, then three dogs and no dogs that appear or do not throughout the story.
Overall, Run Pups Run will appeal to very young readers mainly because it is an outing that most families enjoy and have experienced. There is also a light hearted mood to be found in this story.
Recommended for readers 2 – 7 years.
Reviewed by Julie Deane
