Reviewed by Sheena Monnin for Readers' Favorite

Diego the Smelly Dog by A.G. Russo tells the story of a little girl named Ava who desperately wants to take home a stray dog that she and her grandfather saw on a walk. Her grandfather and her mom know it is risky to take a stray dog home so instead, the dog is taken to a shelter. Because it is a senior dog it is not adopted, even after a few weeks of being in the shelter. Ava and her grandfather visit the dog in the shelter often. It is cleaned and groomed. Ava hopes she can one day have the dog but her mom does not support adopting a senior dog. Finally, after being patient, Ava is surprised by her grandfather and mom agreeing to let her have the dog.

Diego the Smelly Dog by A.G. Russo is heartwarming and sweet. It teaches kids the value of being patient and giving people time to be okay with a big life change, such as Ava giving her mom time to acclimate to the idea of adopting a dog. Ava’s grandfather is helpful and supportive of her wanting to adopt a dog and I love how their relationship is portrayed in the book. The author uses words well to convey a point and with just one mention of what Ava’s mom does for a living, working in a hospital, the reader has a clear understanding of why she is hesitant to let her daughter adopt a senior dog. The story will appeal to children and to parents due to the many subtle lessons it has. This was an enjoyable read.