Constance W. McGeorge

Boomer likes his comfortable life with his humans; he has his bowl, and his food, his favorite spot to sleep, favorite toys, favorite places to be scratched by his family... but one day, everything changes. A mini Boomer jumps out of a cardboard box, and suddenly, Boomer has to share everything! Even his humans. Boomer sulks and watches as the new puppy gets all the attention, plays with his toys and sleeps in Boomer's favorite spot. He feels forgotten and confused. Then, baby brings Boomer his favorite tennis ball and needs Boomer's help to learn how to play like a real dog. Suddenly, Boomer doesn't feel forgotten anymore, he feels important.

I had to ask my mom if she remembered this book because I could not remember the title. The concept, however, has stayed with me for 23 years. Dogs are too good for this world, and a lot of us can relate to having a beloved dog and then changing the dynamic by getting a new puppy. The worry and anticipation of whether they will get along, or whether the new puppy will take too much attention is very relatable. This book really tugs at the heart strings and is frankly adorable.… (mer)

This is another book that I liked to read when I was younger. One reason I liked it was because of the heartwarming pictures on each page that really depict how Boomer, the dog, was feeling. On one page it showed an aerial view of Boomer hiding among boxes and furniture and on the next page Boomer was in the same spot, however everything was taken away and packed up. Mary Whyte was creative in that way with the illustrations. This is an easy read, and is really only geared towards young kids because of how simple and predictable the text is. I would have loved to see a more detailed and challenging version because I think the message was a good one. This book addressed the anxiety and confusion during a move, but at the end of the book, Boomer loved his new home. This book could help out kids who are moving and don't know what to expect. Overall, I would rate this book a 3 or 4/5.… (mer)