GOOD BOY

A nervous boy and an excitable canine bond through dog training.

Charlie’s a good kid…though he barfs whenever he’s anxious, and he’s almost always anxious. As the story starts, he’s spiraling over whether he’s packed a toothbrush for a class trip, and he vomits before even getting on the bus. That incident keeps him home, but, as he despairs while recovering on the sofa, his mom arrives home with a surprise: Ralph, a rescue dog who might be able to help Charlie with his anxiety. Though Ralph is prone to mishaps and hasn’t quite mastered potty training, Charlie embraces him immediately and eagerly assumes responsibility for his care. But it’s not quite enough, and when Charlie’s parents wonder if he’s up for handling the high-strung pup, Charlie marches Ralph straight to training classes. Eventually, Charlie realizes that agility competitions may offer him the opportunity to face his anxiety head-on. At times, the book loses focus, with Charlie’s anxiety getting lost amid the info dump about agility training—course design, terminology, competition rules, and the psychology of pet–owner bonding. Still, Hirsch’s bubbly, action-filled illustrations offer visual interest while remaining easy to follow; dog lovers and kids dealing with similar issues as Charlie's will appreciate this one. Charlie is tan-skinned; his dog-training peers are diverse in terms of age and skin color.

An energetic and educational dog’s tale.