Lulu and the Dog From the Sea

Title: Lulu and the Dog From the Sea
Author: Hilary McKay
Major Themes: Ocean, Dogs, Friendship
Synopsis: While she and Mellie were on vacation, Lulu saw a dog that no one liked—and determined to win his friendship!

I would probably never have given Lulu and the Dog From the Sea a second glance, if it wasn’t scheduled in the Sonlight Kindergarten program I’m using this year with my 6-year-old. She loved it, though! My toddler loves it, too: It has a dog on the front cover, and dog pictures scattered throughout the book, and she loves dogs! So, it ended up being a winner for us.

Lulu and her friend Mellie, 7-year-old cousins who lived very near each other, were very good friends. Every year, they went on vacation together, with Lulu’s family and her dog Sam, while Mellie’s parents took care of the rest of Lulu’s menagerie! This year, they were going to a cottage by the sea.

As they arrived at the cottage, a strange dog ran away, a dog with big floppy ears. No one seemed to like this “dog from the sea,” but Lulu determined to win his trust and tame him. How could she do that in just one week? She worked and worked at it, while Mellie tried her best to get her kite put together. With everything seeming to go wrong, would either girl meet her goal?

Lulu and the Dog From the Sea is a delightful story about two girls, friendship, and dogs. It’s a simple story, perfect for reading with a 6- or 7-year-old. There is enough action to keep a child’s interest, but gentle enough to be enjoyed by even sensitive children. At one point, one of the girls gets hurt, but it shouldn’t be a problem for even a very sensitive child. This is a great book for any child who loves dogs, or even just any girl who loves to read about other girls.

No warnings!