Deegee the Corgi


Children - Animals
61 Pages
Reviewed on 01/28/2021
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Deegee the Corgi is a children’s animal picture book written by Joann I. Song and illustrated by Natalie Loseva. Deegee loves her family, and she cherishes the familiar routines each of the members of the Lee family had followed until recently. Jessica, who had gone away to college, has returned home again along with boxes filled with her stuff. And David, Jessica’s brother, sold the red motorbike he used to ride around town. Mr. Lee, who always came home from work tired, and who used to sneak Deegee treats, just stays home now and Mrs. Lee doesn’t cook delicious-smelling foods as much anymore. And there aren’t that many outings, such as going to the park to see Deegee’s friends. What’s going on? The Lees talk about something called Corona and wear masks when they go out. But the house is still filled with love even if everything seems different.

Joann I. Song’s social issues picture book for children, Deegee the Corgi, explores through the eyes of a young corgi the effects of the pandemic on families like the Lees. Kids are impacted, perhaps more so than anyone else over the long months of sheltering in place. They’re missing out on school, playing with their friends, and being outdoors. While this book doesn’t give kids an in-depth discussion about Covid-19 and preventive measures, it does show how our lives have been affected including kids not being in school and parents being home instead of at work. Natalie Loseva’s illustrations are marvelous, especially her humorous and loving renditions of Deegee, the narrator of the story. This is a grand selection for storytime to get kids involved in what’s going on and to encourage them to discuss their own feelings about the pandemic and the changes in life as seen through their eyes. Deegee the Corgi is most highly recommended.

Marie-Hélène Fasquel

Deegee the Corgi, written by Joann Song and illustrated by Natalie Loseva, is a children’s book meant to put words to the pandemic and the changes it has caused in our lives. It is meant for younger readers but is bound to appeal to a wide age-range. It is told from a dog’s viewpoint and this is extremely effective to ponder the world crisis everyone has been through lately.

Deegee the Corgi by Joann Song caught my attention as its main theme, the pandemic and its various consequences on us and on our lives, is a very bold and major one. Of course, the pandemic is hard on absolutely everyone; however, it is good to stop and think about what it must feel like for younger children who cannot possibly make sense of all its intricacies. Thus, this story, told by Deegee, a lovely and loving corgi, is perfect to help kids understand what they have been through using simple words and sentences in a well-written and engaging read. Parents and teachers will be able to focus on different areas depending on the children’s needs. Numerous topics are lightly tackled, such as students coming back home as universities and colleges closed down, parents not going to work, streets being deserted and quiet, people wearing masks and not getting close to other people, being stressed out and nervous, worrying about the future.

It was a great idea to tell this story from an animal's perspective because kids relate to them and because it creates a kind of emotional bridge that will allow the child reader to process their own feelings at their own pace, which is exactly what this fantastic book is about. Thank you for sharing this lovely story, Joann!

Tiffany Ferrell

Deegee the Corgi notices things changing around him. First, Jessica, one of his humans, is back from school because it shut down. Then David sold his red motorbike and watched the new owner drive away with it. Deegee has been noticing a lot of things that are different this year. No children are playing outside and the streets are quiet. While Jessica is home, she and Deegee look through the family photo album and walk down memory lane. We find out that Deegee loves the beach and spending time with his humans. It makes him sad because he misses those good old days. His humans are worried and don’t want to catch the virus, meanwhile, Deegee is having a hard time staying inside all of the time. He wants to go to the park and do the things he used to but he can’t. Everyone is wearing masks and keeping their distance from one another. It’s all very weird to Deegee but he is slowly getting used to this new normal. What’s even better is that most of the family is back together during these strange times.

I really enjoyed reading Deegee the Corgi and I thought it was an adorable and relatable read. We are living in very different and weird times and children are picking up on that as well as our furry friends. We see the world through the eyes of Deegee and how the Coronavirus has changed the routine of his whole family. It’s a great book that will help kids understand that even though things are different and a bit weird, it’s going to be okay. Being a dog lover, I liked how the author chose to use a dog's point of view rather than a human. The illustrations are beautifully done and fit perfectly with the storyline. Overall, I think Joann Song did a wonderful job writing this book and I can’t wait to read more of her work!