DINGO TOAD HELPS A FRIEND

Dingo Toad rescues a schoolmate from two bullies in Golden’s picture book.

Venesha is a fantastical planet, the largest in the universe, but it has everyday problems just like Earth. One day, when yellow-spotted aquamarine creature Dingo Toad is walking home from school, he spots two familiar bullies chasing a red-haired amphibian named Penny. Dingo leaps to her rescue and shouts at them to stop. He forces them to apologize to Penny, who’s grateful for Dingo’s assistance and rewards him with a cookie. (“Thank you, Dingo.…You are very brave.”) They continue on to their respective homes, winding down for the day. Dingo’s mother makes him a fried fly-chip dinner and reads him a bedtime story while Penny brushes her teeth and gets ready for bed. The two meet in their dreams, where their bond grows stronger. Golden’s picture book is big on heart but light on plot; there’s no setup for Dingo and Penny’s relationship, nor development of either of their personalities. The lesson about standing up for your friends, however, is clear and concise. McGrath’s illustrations are busy and bright enough to distract somewhat from the sparseness of the narrative, leaning into fantastical elements like one bully’s three eyes and Penny’s insect-covered cookie.

A simple take on bullying with a lesson stronger than its story.