Artie and his dog, Gizmo, live in a small place near the Boston Harbor. They both love to wear their warm robes – Artie’s is blue, and Gizmo’s is pink. In Arthur Russell Smith’s The Robe Squad, the two venture out on an evening walk. It’s chilly by the waterfront, but they know their robes will keep them warm. As they’re walking, they hear a squeak. They discover a tiny mouse shivering underneath a leaf. Artie rescues the mouse, and he and Gizmo take it to the vet to be checked out. The mouse is scared at first because he’s so small and both Artie and Gizmo (and even the vet) are so big. But he soon settles into a new life, one full of warmth, love, and his own special robe to wear. What color do you think his robe is?

Arthur Russell Smith’s picture book, The Robe Squad: A Charlestown Tail, is a sweet story about love, affection, and showing kindness to others. The language is simple, so young readers can easily follow along and improve their reading skills. I love the illustrations, which are bright, bold, and colorful, adding another dimension to an otherwise gentle plot. The message about kindness is clear, and young readers will learn how important it is to care for others, to show empathy, and experience the joy of welcoming others, because even the smallest act of kindness will make a difference in someone’s life. This story is beautifully told and presented.

The Robe Squad: A Charlestown Tail, written by Arthur Russell Smith and beautifully illustrated by Craig Orback, is a fun short read. The titular Robe Squad starts off with just Artie and his dog Gizmo. They do a lot of engaging and interesting things together in and around their home in Boston. Since they live near the harbor and have a big window, they usually look out the window to see the boats sailing by. The duo went for a walk in their robes one day and were surprised to meet a squeaking mouse shivering under a leaf. Artie, an animal lover, decides to take the mouse to receive medical help. What does the vet have to say? Is the mouse going to become a member of Artie’s robe squad?

I enjoyed reading The Robe Squad. More importantly, I strongly believe that Arthur Russell Smith’s target audience would love his work. I found the plot appealing and thought-provoking. The idea of a man and his dog walking around in robes made me chuckle. Orback’s vivid illustrations are not just eye-catching but also assist with character development. For example, both Artie’s and Gizmo’s kindness is clearly portrayed in various drawings. I appreciate that Smith’s writing style is tailored toward young readers. I like that his vocabulary is very simple and he uses mostly short sentences. The dialogue is very realistic. I am glad that this work focuses on the theme of love for animals. I highly recommend The Robe Squad to all readers.

Sometimes helping someone starts with simply paying attention. In The Robe Squad: A Charlestown Tail by Arthur Russell Smith, Artie lives near Boston Harbor with his dog, Gizmo. The two spend a lot of time together, whether they’re playing games, eating, or watching the boats from their window. They also happen to share a love of fluffy bathrobes. Artie wears a bright blue one, while Gizmo has a pink one, and that’s how the two became the Robe Squad. One evening, they’re out taking a walk when they hear a squeak coming from beneath a leaf. There they find a tiny mouse, shivering in the cold. Artie picks him up and decides to visit Doctor Valerie, the same veterinarian who helped Gizmo when he had the sniffles. She checks the little mouse over and soon discovers what he needs. But it seems there may be even more they can do for their new friend. Could a small act of kindness lead to something Artie and Gizmo never expected?

I really enjoyed The Robe Squad: A Charlestown Tail by Arthur Russell Smith. I thought the spelling of "tail" instead of "tale" in the title was fun and clever. Knowing Smith based the story on an actual experience he had made the theme of kindness even more meaningful to me. I also appreciated learning that the bathrobes came from his own love of wearing them. I’d happily share this with my kindergarten students because it could lead to conversations about empathy, helping animals, and how even a small gesture can matter. Kids could brainstorm simple ways to show compassion at school and create their own “kindness squad.” Craig Orback’s illustrations add so much personality, especially the scenes showing real Charlestown landmarks. My favorites are the Bunker Hill Monument and Artie knitting by the fire. Young animal lovers and families looking for a sweet book with an easy-to-understand message will want to pick this one up. Aesop said, “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted,” and I think that perfectly captures what this tale (or tail, as the case may be) is all about.

The Robe Squad: A Charlestown Tail by Arthur Russell Smith introduces Artie and his dog Gizmo, who share a cozy little home by Boston Harbor and love nothing more than watching the boats from their big window in their favorite matching bathrobes, Artie's bright blue and Gizmo's warm pink. Together they're the Robe Squad, and one chilly evening the two of them set off for a sunset walk through Charlestown. Along the way they hear a little "squeak!" and stop to look, and there under a leaf is a tiny mouse, cold and trembling and completely on his own. Artie scoops him up gently in his big, warm hands, and with Gizmo's approval, they head straight to their friend Doctor Valerie to make sure the mouse is okay. But Artie has an even bigger surprise waiting once they get back home, one that will make their squad complete.

The Robe Squad: A Charlestown Tail by Arthur Russell Smith is a really lovely little book, and one I'd happily read with a child on a cold evening. Artie is such a gentle character, and kids will get the message about kindness just from watching what he does rather than being told outright, which I always think works better in kids' books. There's a lot of care in the small details too, like Artie taking the mouse to the vet before doing anything else, which quietly shows children that looking after someone means more than just good intentions. Craig Orback's pictures suit the story perfectly, soft and inviting, and they capture the coziness of the bathrobes and the fire really well. There's something nice too in how the story handles a newcomer joining the family; it never feels like the mouse is intruding, just that there's room for one more, and that's such a gentle way to introduce the idea to little ones. A sweet, comforting bedtime read that's easy to love.