Horn Book Review
When Marisol finds a stray mutt, gradually she begins to care for the dog, and her 'abuelito' grudgingly begins to accept him. Marisol and her grandfather share a warm, loving relationship and are part of a caring, Puerto Rican village community. Charming ink and watercolor illustrations accompany the text, which is sprinkled with Spanish words. Glos. From HORN BOOK 1993, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Her grandpa is adamant--Marisol may not have a dog, even though there are numerous strays on their Puerto Rican hillside; dogs have ``fleas and ticks and who knows what.'' Marisol doesn't complain, but bit by ingenuous bit she negotiates. This particularly appealing pooch, she alleges, has no fleas, so he can be petted. Soon the dog has a name, while permission to give him scraps leads inevitably to the purchase of dog food. When ``Pancho'' goes missing, Grandpa's concern equals Marisol's; and in the end, when Grandpa makes one last decree--Pancho, now firmly established, is to be an outside dog, he says--readers will guess it will endure no longer than his others. The naturally cadenced story includes a few Spanish words, nicely defined in context and in a pronouncing glossary. Plecas's expressive, simply rendered illustrations are in the same amiable spirit as the text. Pancho's insinuation into this affectionate family of two is charming. (Easy reader. 4-8)
Booklist Review
/*STARRED REVIEW*/ Gr. 1-3. This engaging story is a perfect example of what an easy reader can be when thought and heart are put into the story. Living in a Puerto Rican village, Marisol wants a dog, even though her grandfather, with whom she lives, says that dogs have fleas and ticks and who knows what else. Many stray dogs run on the hillside, but a skinny brown one catches Marisol's eye. At first she asks just to pat the dog, and Grandfather reluctantly agrees. Then, little by little, with prodding by Marisol, Grandfather comes to accept the dog's presence; the mutt gets some scraps, then a flea collar, then a name, and eventually, to Grandfather's surprise (he's not quite sure how it happened), a home. One of the best things about this is the story's subtext. Unlike most easy readers, not everything is spelled out in the story, and kids will have to make connections, the very thing that will increase their reading ability. Some Spanish words and phrases (defined at the beginning of the book) also deepen the story. But most importantly, this is lively, fun, and filled with pen-and-watercolor art that captures the affection that binds this new family. (Reviewed Sept. 15, 1993)0060247827Ilene Cooper
