This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
Theodore Jerome Cohen, PhD, is an award-winning author who has published more than ten novels, all but one of them mystery/thrillers. He also writes Young Adult (YA) novels under the pen name "Alyssa Devine." Rufus Finds a Home is his second illustrated children's storybook in the series Stories for the Early Years, the first being Pepe Builds a Nest. During the course of his 45-year career he has worked as an engineer, scientist, CBS Radio Station News Service (RSNS) commentator, investor, private investigator, and Antarctic explorer. With his background, he's been able to mix fiction with reality in ways even his family and friends have been unable to unravel! You can read more about Ted on his Website.
Reviewed by Joel R. Dennstedt for Readers' Favorite
Books written for the very young - mostly meant to be read aloud and to have their illustrations presented each step along - like Rufus Finds a Home by Theodore Jerome Cohen, are individually appreciated for their particular cogency of content, attentiveness of voice, and power to engage with illustrative style. The story’s plot - a most important core for any tale - with the very young becomes almost secondary to the visual presentation and aural rhythms. That is, these books are meant to stimulate a young person’s imaginary inclination toward making up his own storyline while listening to sounds, watching pictures, and imbibing a message more subliminally induced than strictly understood. The skill to accomplishing such a daunting task is great, but Theodore Jerome Cohen succeeds masterfully.
Rufus Finds a Home tells a story with a valuable message. Rufus is the longtime golden retriever companion of Charlie, a man so great with age he must make a life decision to surrender his own care unto others, and so must proffer unto Rufus - his very best friend in life - the same generous gift. To whom he shall bequeath his faithful companion becomes the subject of this heartwarming little book. In telling how Rufus Finds a Home, Theodore Jerome Cohen finds a piercing cogency of content during Charlie’s momentary encounter with two endearing children while sharing nostalgic memories of his pal. Just so, the author grabs his youthful listener’s rapt attention with perfect rhymes suited to easy personal narration by parental readers. Finally, the illustrations – focused exclusively on Rufus – are so gloriously simple, stylized, and precious that the child will want to claim the friendly fellow for himself. And learning to embrace such protective feelings is a worthy message to be embedded in such a charming book.
