This humourous easy-read story for children aged 4 to 8 is a must for all dog lovers or people who have pets. It brings out all the positive characteristics that a dog displays daily such as unconditional love, loyalty, friendship, forgiveness, and unending care. It is written in rich rhyme in manner that appeals to children's sense of humour in addition to a subtle deeper message about our values. The story is a series of personal humourous incidents that a dog goes through with his little human friend. Each incident is brought to life by the excellent water colour illustrations by The Mama Twins.

The story was written based on 17 1/2 years of personal anecdotes that the author experienced while sharing time with his dog Muffy. He believes that dogs are like altruist souls sent here to show humans the true meaning of unconditional love, friendship, giving, forgiveness and loyalty. We humans could take many values lesson from our four footed friends. We also need to know how to care properly for our pets that put their lives in our hands each day. It has been said many times that you can judge a person's character by the way they treat animals.

This story was written for young children as invitation to discuss care and responsibility for pets at an early age with parents or teachers at a time in their lives when they are most susceptible to developing compassionate values. Bringing a dog to school could be a realistic, inexpensive, exciting, and educational resource that would be remembered for a lifetime. Children learn 10 percent of what they read, 15 % of what they hear, but 80% of what they experience.

Teachers could use this story as an invitation and basis to teach environmental lessons related implicitly to the Ontario curriculum. At present, it is very difficult to find environmental education explicitly outlined in the curriculum. Teachers need to find open windows of opportunity to include this integral topic in daily lessons. For the sake of future generations environmental education must be taught at every opportunity.

The book can be used by teachers as a motivator and live example to teach difficult environmental science concepts related to the Ontario Science Curriculum such as: Characteristics of Living Things, Classification, Care of Animals, Needs of Animals, Niches of Animals, Food Chains, Life Processes, Adaptation, and Observation. It has a 16-page teacher's guide available that makes connections to children's personal experiences and builds on to prior knowledge using the familiar dog as a springboard to teach the unfamiliar science expectations.

I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me, they are the whole role models for being alive. -Gilda Radner

Frank Glew, the author, holds his doctorate in environmental science and advocates strongly the core values of respect and responsibility for all life and habitat. Hopefully, this book will foster new appreciations for the innate values that are displayed lovingly each day by our four-footed friends.