Stanley's Wild Ride. Linda Bailey. Illustrated by Bill Slavin. Toronto, ON: Kids Can Press, 2006. 32 pp., cloth, $17.95. ISBN 1-55337-960-8. Preschool-grade 2 / Ages 3-7. Review by Christina Neigel. **** /4

excerpt:

Stanley felt like a million dog biscuits. He ran three whole blocks without stopping! to see his best friend, Alice. When Alice saw Stanley running loose, she got very excited. 'Just dig a hole,' said Stanley in dog talk. “It's easy.” Alice tried, but the dirt was too hard. “There must be a way,” said Stanley. Alice poked at her fence and prodded. Finally she found a loose board that was exactly the size of a dog. “Run for it!” barked Stanley, and they did.

Although he knows better, Stanley can not resist temptation. Longing for excitement beyond the realm of his fenced yard, Stanley begins a hole. Once free, Stanley rounds up his four friends for a great, leashless adventure. After exploring the streets, Stanley and his friends make an interesting discovery. Stanley's hair stands on end when he and his doggy pals discover a flat red and black thing with wheels. His nosing about accidentally sets the "thing" rolling. He leaps aboard to stop it but instead gets the ride of his life. Once again, readers have the opportunity to be charmed by Stanley and Linda Bailey's clever humour.

     Adopting the sensibility of a dog, Bailey has created another wonderfully amusing tale about Stanley and his personified canine pals. The simple use of language is well suited to the simple, linear thoughts of the dogs. It is easy to imagine our own four legged friends engaged in a similar exploit! Slavin's illustrations are a treat to examine. The acrylic artwork reveals hilarious doggie expressions and postures.

     A worthy companion to Stanley's Party, Stanley's Wild Ride will amuse and delight readers. A must-have for library collections!

Highly Recommended.

Christina Neigel is an Instructor in the Library and Information Technology Program at the University College of the Fraser Valley in Abbotsford, BC.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

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Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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