Hello Goodbye Dog

PreS-Gr 2—Like most dogs, Moose loves "hello" and hates "goodbye." "Hello" is a ride in the car, a pat on the head, or a visit with her favorite people. "Goodbye" is a closed door and being alone. Moose loves "hello" most when it involves her favorite human, Zara. When Zara steers her wheelchair into her family's van, it means good-bye. Not for long. After all, one thing Moose loves almost as much as "hello" is being read to, and what better place to be read to than school? So Moose finds ways to get to school, much to the chagrin of the staff. Finally Zara gets the idea to have Moose certified as a therapy dog so she can say hello to the schoolchildren every day and help them read. The author's note explains the difference between therapy dogs, which help bolster the confidence of young readers, among other tasks, and service dogs, which require more specialized training. Sweet, skillfully rendered illustrations are clear, convey Moose's worldview, and depict a diverse group of people. Even the dog's expressions—forlorn when she is trapped behind the screen door, sheepish when she resists an order, triumphant when she finds her human again—are instantly recognizable and contribute to the impact of the story.