‘Grandpa’ Donald R. Draayer’s THE ADVENTURES OF BIG DOG: Troubles and Triumph tells the story of two siblings (Dirk and Dawn) who live next door to a very big dog (who, coincidentally, all the neighborhood children call Big Dog). Big Dog is actually a spirited golden retriever who loves to play outside. While Dirk and Dawn don’t necessarily agree on the preferred size, both children pine for a dog of their own. Despite the constant pleas of ‘can we?,’ both parents remain steadfast in their refusal to get a dog. That is until Bog Dog’s owner asked the family to dog sit for a couple of days. The parents reluctantly agree, and Dirk and Dawn get their wish! Unfortunately, the children soon learn that owning a dog of any size is a considerable responsibility (and in the case of Big Dog, a whole lot of trouble). It’s a lesson reinforced by two days of canine-fueled mischief and hi-jinx that gives the whole family a taste of owning a dog. The only question is, will the experiment dash the children’s hopes for a dog of their own?
THE ADVENTURES OF BIG DOG is the work of a loving grandfather with a gift for storytelling, a point reinforced by the family pictures that appear following the story’s conclusion. As with any labor of love, the story of Dirk and Dawn and their doggy dilemma exudes a sense of authenticity. Regarding the story itself, Draayer succeeds at spinning a fun, thoughtful tale that manages to teach a handful of those all-important life lessons. And the cartoonish illustrations (provided by the talented Alan Tollefson) scattered throughout the pages are a welcome addition. But Draayer’s wisest decision comes by way of his choice in subject matter. The technology surrounding our children seems to be evolving at an unprecedented pace, but the desire for a puppy is about as timeless as it gets. And as (just about) every parent can attest, the ‘can we get a dog’ conversation can only be avoided for so long. To that point, Draayer gently illustrates just how big of a responsibility a new pet can be.
For all of its redeeming qualities, there are some facets of THE ADVENTURES OF BIG DOG that leave room for improvement. For instance, the wince-inducing illustrations depicting Big Dog and his bloody paw are an odd choice, as is the over-reliance on superfluous details. Explaining the multiple wires inside an electrical cord feels wholly unnecessary for a chapter book geared toward a middle-grade audience. There is also a choppiness to Draayer’s prose and a handful of grammatical errors that simply shouldn’t exist in a book with such a low word count. Minor critiques notwithstanding, THE ADVENTURES OF BIG DOG is an overall fun read that ends with an appropriately happy ending.
A fun, illustrated chapter book encouraging responsibility, what ‘Grandpa’ Donald R. Draayer’s THE ADVENTURES OF BIG DOG lacks in polish it more than makes up for with heart.
~James Weiskittel for IndieReader