AN AUSSIE IN NEW YORK CITY
Our first title has just been released.
Here’s the city Daniel, 12, hides from in his 4th floor Brooklyn apartment: Summer sauna streets! Gross pigeon poop! Winter wind tunnels! Playground stampedes! Stinky garbage mountains! … And Bullies! Bullies here, Bullies there, Bullies everywhere! Grown-ups are moving too fast in their stressed-out lives to notice. So, Daniel just stays inside as long as he can.
One day a mysterious Australian Shepherd dog appears on Daniel’s block. It almost seems to be looking for Daniel. The Aussie displays an almost supernatural skill to herd not sheep-but grown-ups. Soon Daniel is following the Aussie to crowded, iconic New York landmarks like Coney Island, Times Square, and the Empire State Building. The Aussie magically transforms what would have been frightening experiences into enchanting adventures, eventually giving Daniel his own skills to handle the bullies in his life. Blending slapstick and whimsy, with bold illustrations that breathe magic into Daniel’s expeditions, this charming tale offers insight into how kids process grief-and celebrates the healing power of love between a child and a dog.
“A giddy, extravagant fairy tale to remind us that dogs make us better humans. Especially in the chaos of a big city. Animals connect us to the world-and to each other. Everyone needs a dog like Pablo!” — PATTI RAGAN, founder and executive director, Center for Great Apes.
From KIRKUS REVIEWS
‘Daniel’s tentative exploration of the environment around him echoes larger themes that are explicitly stated in ways that younger kids can understand. Authors Mark and Harry Rosenthal continually impart valuable lessons about family, courage, and grief-whether it’s revealing that (the bully) Punch is really just a lonely little boy abused by his father or showing that Pablo disappeared because Daniel was finally courageous enough on his own. When readers learn that Daniel’s dad died and the whole book is a depiction of the boy’s grief, the gut punch will resonate deeply with anyone who’s lost a loved one. This poignant twist on the classic “boy and his dog” story addresses multiple difficult issues with grace and compassion.’