Sand Dog


Children - General
28 Pages
Reviewed on 09/08/2014
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by Kristie Ingerto for Readers' Favorite

Sand Dog, written and illustrated by Ruth Fox, is an excellent children’s book that addresses moving and the feelings of acceptance and loneliness that go along with this event. A boy and his mom move from the city to the beach, and into a smaller house that is far away from everyone and everything that he has known and lived near. Now that he is out of the city, he hopes that he is able to get a dog; however, the answer from his mom is no. The boy goes down to the beach to check out his surroundings and, because he is bored, he begins to doodle in the sand. What results is a companion for the boy who alleviates the feelings of loneliness and helps him adjust to a new life in this house by the beach.

Moving is a huge adjustment for people, and can be a traumatic event, especially for children. Ruth Fox addresses this and the emotions that may go along with it in her children’s book, Sand Dog. A boy is upset about moving and he feels lonely and bored. He begins doodling in the sand and creates a dog; this sand dog becomes his companion as he adjusts to his new life and is with him when he is checking out his new neighborhood, adjusting to his new house and living life with him. However, this all ends one night with a storm; but the sand dog has done his job and helped him adjust.

This story is an excellent example of a healthy coping mechanism for children to use while needing to adjust to a situation such as a move. The boy utilizes his ability and love of drawing and, combined with his imagination, he is able to adjust to his new life. The illustrations are well done as they capture the emotions and the setting so perfectly. This is an excellent book to share with children who may be moving or experiencing a similar transition in their lives.