Review by Pam Marr Rybinski
So realistic you’ll wonder how you ever missed hearing about it, this adventure story of one small handicapped dog braving the cold Atlantic will keep you entranced from prologue to end. In it are scary occurrences, plus empathetic strangers that include Queen Elizabeth and three of her royal Corgis: Emma, Holly, and Willow.
Sandy Woolworth cleverly invents a new apparatus he calls “DOGSPEAK” to communicate the thoughts of his unique narrator: a feisty Corgi named Winnie. Readers are subsequently able to “hear” the actual thoughts going through his canine heroine’s head. Winnie comments that “the name of the program should really be ANIMALSPEAK, not DOGSPEAK.” Apparently it works for all animals “except, of course, parrots.”
Chapter titles like “Yesterday . . . ROUTINE, SCHMOUTINE”, “JUST A WEE DIP IN THE OCEAN”, and “TO BOOF OR NOT TO BOOF” hint at the caliber of this adventure tale. The lovingly-created uplifting illustrations by Carol Tippit Woolworth perfectly complement the plotline.
This BOOK ONE of what is called THE WINNIE CHRONICLES consists of 46 pages in a softback 8½” square format. It’s possible that it’s meant for young readers. However, it will appeal to most readers young at heart. Best of all, there are implicit promises of more adventures to come!
