When You Wander: A Search-and-Rescue Dog Story

by Margarita Engle, Mary Morgan (Illustrator)

Overview

When you wander down a leafy path
I can smell your invisible trail . . .

This cozy story gently teaches children what to do if they lose their way, and reassures them that a search-and-rescue dog can find them wherever they are. And once a child is found, the dog will bring people to make sure that everyone gets home safe and sound.

Full of interesting facts about search-and-rescue dogs and tips for young children in case they get lost, Margarita Engle's When You Wander is a fascinating peek into the world of these amazing dogs and the children they save.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781466830387
Publisher:	Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Publication date:	04/30/2013
Sold by:	Macmillan
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
File size:	30 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Margarita Engle is the author of several award-winning novels in verse, including The Surrender Tree, a Newbery Honor Book. Her picture book Summer Birds was a Kirkus Best Book for Children. She lives in northern California, where she enjoys helping her husband train his two wilderness search and rescue dogs, Chance and Maggi.

Mary Morgan has illustrated more than forty children's books and written several too, including Dragon Pizzeria. Mary and her husband divide their time between Semur en Auxois, a small village in France, their sailboat in the Mediterranean Sea, and visiting their family.

Editorial Reviews

A simple, poetic narrative in the voice of a rescue dog.” —School Library Journal

“The story's text flows in poetic fashion . . . A sensible safety lesson and a satisfying story.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Like the firefly light, Engle's poetry is a gossamer thread of subtle beauty weaving together three memorable characters who together find hope and courage. Another fine volume by a master of the novel in verse.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review on The Firefly Letters

“This book is an outstanding choice for young people of all reading skills.” —School Library Journal, starred review on Tropical Secrets

“Readers will be caught by the compelling narrative voices.” —Booklist, starred review on The Surrender Tree

From the Publisher

PreS-Gr 1—A simple, poetic narrative in the voice of a rescue dog describes the animal's powerful sense of smell. The book recommends that children who might get lost in the woods "stay in one place./Hug a tree./Think of me./I will race/against the night/and the wind/to bring you home safe." While this is valuable advice, the youngster depicted in the appealing watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil illustrations is a toddler, someone who is not developmentally ready to learn or remember the information. The age of this child will confuse older readers and discourage them from attending to the message in this picture book.—Laura Scott, Farmington Community Library, MI

School Library Journal

A charismatic golden retriever narrates this earnest story about finding a toddler who wanders away into the woods. The unnamed dog is newly qualified as a search-and-rescue dog, along with his female handler. As the story opens, the dog is tracking the missing child by sniffing objects and locations where the boy has been. The child is shown in the dog's thought bubbles engaging in the activities that led to the various scents. At first, the dog just describes the boy's activities, but as darkness falls, the dog urges the child to find a tree to hug and stay in one place till the dog can find him. The story's text flows in poetic fashion, with evocative descriptions such as "squishy snail-slime mud" and "silvery singsong bell" and lyrical, reassuring phrases from the compassionate rescue dog. Despite the potentially scary subject of being lost in the woods at night, the story's tone projects a sense of brave leadership from the dog, resourcefulness from the child and cozy security when the little boy is returned to his parents. Both dog and boy are endearing in the charming watercolor-and-pencil illustrations. A sensible safety lesson and a satisfying story. (afterword) (Picture book. 3-8)

Kirkus Reviews