Truman the Dog

by Debbi Michiko Florence, Melanie Demmer (Illustrator)

Overview

T is for Truman, tricks, and TROUBLE! Truman the black lab might be an older rescue dog, but he's still got enough mischief beneath his collar to keep eight-year-old Kaita Takano and her animal-fostering family on their toes from morning till night. Chewed through and through, the playfully illustrated, Kaita-narrated chapter book promises plenty of canine fun.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781515845607
Publisher:	Capstone
Publication date:	08/01/2019
Series:	My Furry Foster Family
Pages:	72
Sales rank:	463,785
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.30(h) x 0.30(d)
Age Range:	5 - 7 Years

About the Author

Debbi Michiko Florence writes books for children in her writing studio, The Word Nest. She is an animal lover with a degree in Zoology, and has worked at a pet store, the Humane Society, a raptor rehabilitation center, and a zoo. She is the author of two chapter-book series: Jasmine Toguchi (FSG) and Dorothy & Toto (Picture Window Books). A third-generation Japanese American and a native Californian, Debbi now lives in Connecticut with her husband, a rescue dog, a bunny, and two ducks.

Melanie is an American artist born and raised in Plymouth, Michigan. She has been drawing since she was a little girl. Back then, her favorite canvas was pavement and her go to medium was sidewalk chalk. Nowadays, Melanie likes create artwork digitally but also enjoys using watercolor, markers, colored pencils, and acrylic paint. Oh, and sometimes a pinch of glitter too!  Melanie is a 2013 graduate of the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Michigan where she earned a BFA in Illustration. The Michigan-native has since relocated to Los Angeles, California to pursue a career in illustration and design.

Interviews

will appeal to all kids who love animals; similar to fan-favorite chapter-book series ADVENTURES AT HOUND HOTEL; focuses on character-building activities of caregiving, resilience, and sacrifice; main character is a young Japanese-American girl, filling the urgent need for more-inclusive chapter books in the market and allowing more readers to see themselves in the stories

Editorial Reviews

Kaita’s experience helping a labrador named Truman feels true-to-life and might just inspire you to become a foster family for a pet, too.

Imagination Soup

07/01/2019

Gr 1–3—Eight-year-old Kaita is Japanese-American, and she loves books, puzzles, drawing, and her rescue dachshund Ollie. She also wants to be a vet when she grows up. One night at dinner, her father announces that they will be fostering an older black lab named Truman whose family had to move away without him. Kaita is excited about fostering Truman and finding him his "forever home," but she soon realizes that adding another dog to a household isn't always easy. Truman is shy with new people and doesn't like to be left alone. He shreds his dog bed, eats food off the counter, and hates baths. Soon, her family is repeating the constant refrain, "Oh, Truman. You found trouble." Despite the challenges with Truman, Kaita works hard to make him feel at home and take care of him, and she struggles a little with giving him up. The story has five chapters, a variety of full-color illustrations, and is the first in a new series, with Kaita fostering a new animal in each title. There are many worthwhile elements—a responsible and helpful protagonist, a diverse and loving family, and the message that rescuing animals is worthwhile—though the story is predictable. The endpages have discussion questions for readers, some drawing activities, a glossary, and a fun comparison of the real-life Kaita (who inspired the story) with the fictional Kaita. VERDICT A sweet title that will appeal to young readers who love dogs.—Sally James, South Hillsborough Elementary School, CA

School Library Journal

2019-05-12
A rescue dog gets into some silly hijinks with his foster family.

Eight-year-old Japanese American Kaita Takano and her family have decided to foster a black Lab named Truman. When Truman arrives, he's a little shy, but it doesn't take long for him to get comfortable with the Takano family and their dachshund, Ollie. Fostering brings new challenges and lessons, especially when Truman finds trouble, like eating a whole box of treats or rolling in the trash. Kaita grows to love Truman and learns fostering an animal is difficult when you have to say goodbye. Florence's first in a new chapter-book series is divided into five chapters meant for readers making the transition from early readers. The focus on fostering animals rather than adopting them brings the topics of caregiving and sacrifice to light. Demmer adds fun, full-color illustrations, bringing the lovable Truman to life. The characters are culturally diverse, and cultural customs are reflected in the illustrations—characters go barefoot inside the Takano house, for instance. Based on a real-life Kaita, the book offers a backmatter section with photographs comparing the real and fictional Kaitas. It also provides discussion questions, activities, and a glossary. Buttons the Kitten releases simultaneously, and the Takanos will foster hamsters and a bearded dragon in future outings.

An adorable first book in a new series for animal lovers. (Fiction. 6-9)

Kirkus Reviews