The Rescues Finding Home (The Rescues #1)

4.8

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The Rescues Finding Home (The Rescues #1)

Author(s)

Co-Authors / Illustrators

Shiho Pate

Publisher Name

Red Comet Press

Genre(s)

Age Range

Release Date

September 05, 2023

ISBN13

978-1636550763

ISBN10 or ASIN

Two shelter dogs await adoption in this early reader story about friendship, family, and home.

Moose and Bear are two scrappy shelter dogs patiently waiting for the right owner to adopt them. They meet, become friends, and one day a Cathy decides to take them both home. Despite their luck, they must face the challenges of settling into their new home. Along the way, they learn about each other, and their friendship deepens. Told with humor and heart, Finding Home is a tale that champions the importance of family and relays how it feels to belong and to have a place to call home.

Editor review

1 review

Charming Early Reader Book

December 10, 2023

Overall rating

4.8

Plot

5.0

Characters

5.0

Writing Style

5.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

4.0

In this early chapter book, we meet two dogs, Moose and Bear. Moose is missing an eye, and Bear is missing a leg, but the two are great friends and love to play together. They are living in a shelter where they get few visitors who might want to adopt them. One day, they are out in the yard, and deciding that neither looks much like the animal for which he is named. This escalates into both climbing up a tree and getting stuck there. Luckily, a woman named Cathy comes along and adopts both dogs. They are happy in their new home, and enjoy romping in the yard and getting treats from Mailman Joe. When a fence goes up, they are dismayed that they do not get to see as much of the world. They manage to tunnel under the fence and escape, but some home in time for dinner. When they crawl back under the fence and into the yard, they meet a new inhabitant, a cat named Tiger. Cathy washes up the new animal, but he has trouble sleepy. Moose and Bear helpfully try to sing Tiger to sleep and even trade beds with him. Eventually, the three snuggle up together and become best friends.

Good Points

The representation of older, special needs dogs in this is wonderful, and much needed in the world of dog books. The level of text complexity also fills a gap in children's literature in that it is slightly longer than a picture book but not quite a beginning novel. Butler's Kayla and King series or I Can Read Books with be the closest comparison.

Moose and Bear are just goofy enough to get children giggling, but also has serious themes of family and togetherness. I loved how Bear and Moose tried to get Tiger to sleep, and how generous they were with sharing their toys. A sequel is in the offing, most likely having to do with Bear and Moose weathering a storm, which would be a great companion to the new Melling title, Ruffles and the Cozy, Cozy Bed!