Big Dog and Little Dog Go Sailing Book

Big Dog and Little Dog's adventures on their new boat include fishing, water skiing, and exploring a very unusual island.

Children's Literature

Big Dog and his faithful buddy, Little Dog, are ready for a sailing adventure on their new boat. A day filled with nautical activities like fishing, water-skiing, snorkeling and exploring leads these two humorous characters to an unexpected discovery. The cartoonish illustrations will delight readers who enjoy looking to the pictures for further details. The watercolor paints used in the pictures offer vibrant color, yet blend well with the ocean setting. The text and the illustrations work together to emphasize story telling and to build reading skills. Not only is the text clear and age appropriate, the author uses language like, "SPLOSH" and "Chug, splutter, chug, chug," to encourage expression and excitement from children. One unique element used in this book is the speech bubbles, which allow a friendly bantering between the two main characters. It is part of the "Blue Bananas" series, which publishes many books designed to intrigue and provide practice for young readers. An appropriate selection for beginning to emerging readers, a teacher could use this book for a guided reading lesson or send it home for additional practice. 2002, Crabtree, $14.97 and $4.95. Ages 5 to 7. Reviewer: Charlyn Fiskum