Anna Belle Cook
and The Boy Who Talked to Dogs by Bill Schweitzer features characters from the author's engrossing
Doves in a Tempest: The Valley of Horror. This is a wonderfully crafted book
for kids and one that transports them into a fantasy world where dogs can talk
— and kids will love the dogs in this book, starting from Sam. The setting
is in Austin, Texas in 1958. Bobby is a six-year-old boy who grew up with a
brain impairment that makes speech difficult for him. He learns to talk to
dogs. So, when Anna Belle Cook and her friends come into his life, everything
changes. It becomes colorful and exciting as they set out on different
adventures in a world where dogs can also speak.
The journey of
Bobby who couldn't just talk and who has difficulty understanding is
incredible. In these tales, the author exalts the power of compassion and
empathy, exemplified by Anna Belle Cook and her friends. The characters are
wonderfully written and Anna Belle is the feisty kind who makes a huge
difference in the pack. Bobby feels accepted and his healing happens through a
series of adventures through which his other gifts come to maturity — from
solving a mystery to learning to talk to humans. The story is delivered in
language that is accessible to children, filled with emotionally rich scenes,
and features characters that are memorable. The author skillfully uses
anthropomorphism to bring the fantasy world to life. Children will understand
the importance of empathy and the power of acceptance of differences in dealing
with others. While this is a fantasy tale for Children, it is permeated with
humanity and realism and dog lovers will enjoy it as children looking for a
delightful reading adventure.
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