Boomer's Big Surprise (Boomer, BOOM) - Hardcover

Reviews of
Boomer's Big Surprise
By Constance W. McGeorge
Illustrations by Mary Whyte

BOOKLIST
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
KIRKUS REVIEWS

FROM: BOOKLIST
By Lauren Peterson
Boomer, the spunky golden retriever who starred in Boomer's Big Day (1994) and Boomer Goes to School (1996), is back in a new adventure. This time he gets a new dog sibling and has most of the same feelings young children have when there's a new baby in the house. First, Boomer is confused. Why is Baby eating when it isn't dinnertime yet? Then the green-eyed monster rears its head as Boomer watches Baby playing with Boomer's favorite toy and getting a belly rub. But just when Boomer is beginning to wonder whether anyone will ever play with him again, he feels a lick on his nose. It isn't long before Boomer and Baby are off and running with Boomer leading the way. This delightful series may use a lovable family dog to play out common childhood events, but children will relate to Boomer's experience as easily as they would to a child's. Whyte, who actually owns a golden retreiver named Boomer, has done another fine job depicting the action in flowing watercolors. A worthwhiie addition to a fine series.

FROM: SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
By Martha Topol
Boomer's canine reactions provide insight into the new sibling experience. His expressions of curiousity and dejected concern will garner sympathy from readers and allow them to seet he pains and rewards that accompany any addtion to a family. Following the lead of the text, the watercolor illustrations give a dog's-eye view of the world. Soft and pleasing, they make the most of the inherent cuteness of a golden retriever puppy. Delightful and emotionally satisfying.

FROM: KIRKUS REVIEWS
Using unembellished language and plain sentence structure, the narrator reports Boomer's feelings, "Later, everyone went outside to play. Boomer was very excited...He waited and waited for someone to throw him the ball. But no one did." Baby wins Boomer over with a wag of the tail and a lick of the nose, enlisting the older dog in play. The crowning moment is a spread showing Boomer as onlooker to the new puppy's masterpiece a paw-printed living room with a chewed-up shoe, knocked-over plant, and spilling goldfish bowl. The affectionate watercolors will find their audience in dog lovers and children with new siblings alike.