FICTION

A Lucky Author Has a Dog

by Mary Lyn RAY
illus. by Steven Henry. 40p. Scholastic/Arthur A. Levine Bks. 2015. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780545518765. LC 2014041966.
COPY ISBN
K-Gr 2—Ray's new picture book shows a day in the life of an author who works from home. The author lives in a brownstone in a city with her small dog. "So the dog brings ideas. A lucky author has a dog who helps." Children will smile when they see how the tongue-in-cheek writing is complemented and extended by Henry's realistic pencil and digital illustrations. When the author goes into an elementary school, her advice inspires the children to write stories of their own, even if they don't have a real dog.
VERDICT The autumn setting makes this a perfect book to read during the first months of school or in preparation for an author visit.
Reviewed by Tanya Boudreau, Cold Lake Public Library, AB, Canada
Told mostly from the dog's point of view, this story shows the daily life of an author in the city. Activities include writing and visiting a school, all shown in clear, appealing illustrations. The text's occasional attempts to describe creativity and inspiration fall curiously flat, with more of an adult sensibility, but young readers will get a sense of the process.
 , Oct 01, 2015

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