Watchdog and the Coyotes

Bill Wallace grew up in Oklahoma. Along with riding their horses, he and his friends enjoyed campouts and fishing trips. Toasting marshmallows, telling ghost stories to scare one another, and catching fish was always fun.
One of the most memorable trips took place on the far side of Lake Lawtonka, at the base of Mt. Scott. He and his best friend, Gary, spent the day shooting shad with bow and arrows, cutting bank poles, and getting ready to go when their dads got home from work.
Although there was no "monster" in Lake Lawtonka, one night there was a "sneak attack" by a rather large catfish tail. Checking the bank poles was not nearly as fun or "free" after that point, but it was the inspiration for this story.
Bill Wallace has won nineteen children's state awards and been awarded the Arrell Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award for Children's Literature from the Oklahoma Center for the Book.

Grade 4-6?Wallace applies his love of animals and sense of humor to yet another successful story. Sweetie, a Great Dane, is on his third owner?his warm-hearted efforts at protection have been misinterpreted by his previous masters. Now he is paranoid about making a mistake for fear of being sent to the pound. Red and Poky, two neighboring dogs, listen to his story with empathy, offering him consolation and bolstering his self-esteem. All seems to be going smoothly until the coyotes arrive from the Arizona desert. They bully the three companions, stealing their food, sleeping in their dog houses, and threatening them with bodily harm. Sweetie takes charge and leads the dogs in training, which culminates in a final victory over the thieving scoundrels. Sweetie, Red, and Poky display their own distinct personalities through their dialogue and actions. The lively scenes depicted in the black-and-white illustrations reflect the upbeat tone of Wallace's writing. Using the popular theme of the weak overcoming the seemingly more powerful, the author has created a fast-paced, descriptive novel suitable for reading aloud or independently. Even reluctant readers will be tempted to finish this book.?Cheryl Cufari, N.A. Walbran Elementary School, Oriskany, NY
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.