Outskirts Press
ISBN: 978-1478700036
Published Aug 30, 2013
Softcover, 40 pages
This is the third book in a series featuring the adventurous balloon named Poppy. We haven't read the first two books.
Poppy meets Fat Puppy in the park. He has no home and he is cold and hungry. Poppy wants to help Fat Puppy and so takes him the see Dr. Helpman the vet who states that the dog is very sick and overweight. He prescribes a well-balanced diet and exercise. When the puppy asks if Poppy will help him find a home, Poppy says he must first get better. Poppy helps Fat Puppy eat well and they have fun exercising. Once the dog "turns into a happy and healthy dog" he gets a new name and a new home.
I read this book with my 9 year-old son and we thought it was just okay.We liked that Poppy befriended the lost dog and helped him get better, having fun with him as they did outdoor activities, such as running, hiking and swimming.
We get that the author was promoting the message that eating well and exercising are important but it was the way the message was conveyed that had us frowning. Fat Puppy is told that he must first get better before a home would be found for him. Does that mean that if you are overweight and sick you don't deserve a home? Also, we wondered why the puppy was considered to be "very sick"(he didn't look it and it wasn't explained) and why he was overweight if he was without a home and hungry? Where did he come from? How did he get lost or alone? Since he was a puppy, where was his mother?
Apart from these unanswered questions, my son thought the illustrations and the story were simplistic. Even children's books need a good plot.
Note: This book is rated C = clean read.
Reviewed by Laura & Son
Disclosure: Thanks to the author and Bostick Communications for sending us this book for review. We were not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.
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