Odd Dog Out
“Tots will delight in the colorful pages, which offer counting and color identification opportunities as well as conversation triggers that are so valuable to young, developing minds.”
Celebrating individuality, Odd Dog Out tells the tale of a dachshund who is different from her peers. While the other dachshunds in her community dress alike (be it their business suits, sports outfits, camping clothes, or public service uniforms), our heroine wraps herself in multicolored scarves and listens to lively music on her earphones. As the author explains in lilting rhyme, “Someone on this busy street is dancing to a different beat.”
Feeling totally out of place, our Odd Dog sets out on a long journey to find her own kind. She walks for years, going to the depths of the sea and the tops of the mountains in search of simpatico souls. “She walks till she can walk no more. Is this the place she’s looking for?”
To her delight and astonishment, she comes to a place (Doggywood!) where everyone is like her, full of creativity, embracing adventure, and enjoying self-expression.
But there is one dog there who is different. He dresses differently, he acts differently. “Somebody this afternoon is whistling a different tune.”
Our heroine pities him at first until he explains, “You’ve got it wrong. I really feel like I belong. I love to stand out from the crowd! And so should you. Stand tall. Be proud.”
Not surprisingly, our heroine has an “aha” moment. It’s okay to be different, and it’s important to be true to oneself. She returns home, where she is welcomed with open paws. Under her leadership, other dogs begin to express themselves too. Behold, each one was a doggy superstar. Lest there be any doubt to the message, the author encourages readers to “blaze a trail. Be who you are.”
The light, amusing tone and cartoonish illustrations soften the book’s preachy, didactic moments. Tots will delight in the colorful pages, which offer counting and color identification opportunities as well as conversation triggers that are so valuable to young, developing minds.