Synopsis
Little Molly Gail loves all kinds of animals, but she is afraid of dogs - dogs with sharp teeth, dogs that drool and lick, big dogs that like to jump up on little people. Nothing short of magic, it seems, will make Molly Gail like dogs. On her seventh birthday she receives a pair of magic shoes that allow her to overcome her fear. With paintings bright and lyrical, this story shows how one little girl discovers the tail-wagging, heartwarming magic of dogs simply by getting to know them. Perfect for anyone, big or small, who has ever been afraid of dogs.
School Library Journal
PreS-Gr 3Molly Gail likes to spend her afternoons painting pictures of birds on the porch of her house by the sea. She loves all of Earth's creatures except canines. She is wary of Daisy, a huge sheep dog that lives next door who licks people's faces, and of a spotted dog named Paris, who jumps up on people. The problem is solved when she receives a pair of fancy turquoise shoes for her birthday. In them, her steps are "as light as pink flamingoes." The distraction makes her forget to duck behind a tree when a dog approaches, prompting a decision to face calmly the next dog she encounters. Soon Molly is painting pictures of her numerous dog friends. A year later, when the magic shoes are too small, Molly's parents present her with a puppy she dubs "Magic." This winsome book has a sweet, cheerful tone, and Golembe's bright and expressive gouache paintings make this simple story positively magical.Jackie Hechtkopf, Talent House School, Fairfax, VA