Review sponsored* by Frances Crossno
The Children’s Book Review | July 12, 2016
Written by Frances Crossno
Age Range: 7-10
Hardcover: 98 pages
Publisher: First Edition Design eBook Publishing (March 2, 2016)
ISBN: 978-1506901688
What to expect: Dogs, Christmas, Siblings, Christianity, Kindness
Cole’s Perfect Puppy is the first book in the PERFECT PUPPIES series—a new series of Christian novels written by Frances Crossno. This heartwarming tale is about a young boy, his love of dogs, and the importance of kindness.
Readers are introduced to both Cole and his younger brother Caleb, who are currently under the care of their uncle while their parents are abroad for work. Cole’s greatest desire is to own a dog, and he hopes to receive one for Christmas. While at the pet store in the local shopping mall, Cole spots the puppy of his dreams: a red golden retriever named Scarlet. In all of the Christmas holiday shopping mayhem, the puppy breaks loose from the pet store and an exciting chase takes place. Cole manages to get hold of the puppy and, upon returning her to the pet store manager, establishes many pivotal relationships—including meeting Rachel, a fellow school student who, after the death of her father in the Iraq war, has been living in a trailer with her mother. It is through Rachel that the boys learn the importance of kindness, acceptance, and God’s love. With a nicely established set of characters, readers will enjoy the journey to discover if Cole will indeed end up owning Scarlet.
Crossno has weaved a myriad of themes and emotions into this tightly plotted tale with an unexpected yet delightful ending. There is humor (in the form of a pot-bellied pig), sadness, anxiety (Cole and Caleb’s parents briefly go missing while in Egypt), hope, and excitement. There is bullying, perseverance, and excellent acts of child-driven kindness. And, thanks to Scarlet the dog, the subtle message that you don’t actually have to be perfect in the eyes of God or those that love you, is not to be lost. All in all, the tale is filled with plenty of interesting arcs that propel the story forward and keep readers guessing and rooting for the characters. The discussion questions that can be found at the back of the book are well chosen and certainly help the reader to think more deeply about the story and how each individual reader can personally connect to the themes.
Cole’s Perfect Puppy is a well-written chapter book infused with faith. Kids age seven and up are sure to enjoy it.
Add this book to your collection: Cole’s Perfect Puppy: Perfect Puppies: Book One
Available Here:
About Frances Crossno
I grew up in East Texas in the Lufkin area.I graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches,Texas with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a minor in Computer Science. As an only child, dogs were always good companions for me. Those relationships taught me about unconditional love and what a person might do to have that kind of love.
Ithink I wrote my first little story as a 3rd or 4th grader about a little girl whose father was flying into a Hurricane to determine information about it.
Ia m a Christian and belong to the Baptist Church. After college I went to work for Texas Instruments(TI) in Dallas, Texas. I retired from there in 2009 as an Information Technology project manager and now work for the American Heart Association.When I retire from there in a few years I desire to have a writing career.
My goal in writing is to share my Christian faith and my love of animals.
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Dedicated Reviews allow authors and illustrators to gain prompt visibility for their work. The author of “Cole’s Perfect Puppy: Perfect Puppies: Book One,” Frances Crossno, sponsored* this non-biased review. Learn more about getting a book review …