Cocoa is a cherished and pampered pet, happy with her New York City lifestyle of walks in the park, the company of her canine friend Tiberius, trips to the beach, and the undivided attention of her loving human mother. One day, though, her mother packs up and moves with her to New Canaan, Connecticut. The move is a bit of a shock, and she misses Tiberius and the park, but she has substantially more space to roam, and she is getting accustomed to things when, all of a sudden, she’s hit with another major change. Her mother adopts another dog, a puppy named Bennie. Bennie adores Cocoa and wants to follow her everywhere, refusing to sleep unless he’s with her, and generally acting as her shadow. She is less enthusiastic, since he lays claim to her toys, her special blanket, and most of all, her mother’s attention.
This is a sweet little story, told in pictures as well as words that will appeal to children who have to deal with a new sibling or a move, or another important lifestyle change. The photographs of the dogs radiate personality and charm, and the writing is full of humor and mischief. The story is optimistic, written in language appropriate for young kids, and not overly preachy or moralistic.
The format and feel of the book, however, is a bit amateurish – the photographs, while obviously the product of a caring and talented hand, sometimes have framing and focus issues, and do not have a professional feel to them. Sometimes the photos are placed so as to break up the text, interfering with the flow of the book. The book is also sprinkled with clip art here and there, which adds to the amateur feel. On the other hand, however, this is a kids’ book, so these stylistic choices are less damaging to the perceived quality of the book than they might be in an adults’ book, and might even make kids feel more comfortable with it.
COCOA BEAR & BENNIE BOY is a nice little picture book that will appeal to young dog-lovers, especially those who are dealing with major life changes and need a bit of a boost.
Reviewed by Catherine Langrehr for IndieReader.