Sun Dog by Deborah Kerbel and Suzanne Del Rizzo is a beautifully illustrated, impeccably written tale about a little sled dog pup who dreams of running with the big dogs.

Juno loves her boy and loves to play, especially in her home in the land of the midnight sun.  Although she is little, she has a big, fierce dog on the inside.  When a polar bear threatens her boy, Juno doesn’t back down.  She puts herself in harms way, to protect her boy.  With a little help from the big dogs next door they force the polar bear back onto the tundra.

Sun Dog is a lovely little story that will speak to all little children, who are just desperate to be bigger and older.  One of the most common things I hear in my day job as a preschool teacher and mom is “I wish I was a grownup!”  Juno is every child who is clamouring to have more responsibility and autonomy.  Plus, she is just so darn cute!  The text just rolls off the tongue and is written in a way that will make reading it aloud so easy and fun right from the first reading.  Children will love and be inspired by the plasticine illustrations by Suzanne Del Rizzo.  All of the illustrations are so vibrant and full of incredible details and mixes of colours to capture the beautiful sky in the far north.

Sun Dog is a fantastic little book for the dog days of summer.  If you happen to live in the GTA, head out to Indigo Yorkdale this Saturday, June 2nd at 2pm for the launch of Sun Dog.  There will be plasticine art activities, refreshments, readings, and author signings.