Author(s): Dianne Ellis

Early Readers | Our Local Authors

This picture book was written for the enjoyment of children up to five years of age. I have used rhyming text because its flowing motion captures the comical and emotional connection that this little dog has with his new owners, the Rumble family, who rescue him from the local dog pound. It s a very cute story, yet not too far from reality. I also believe that the ease of remembering rhyme helps children with word identification and is a fun learning-to-read experience. Rusty adores his new home and the Rumbles treat him as a valued member of their family. The book shows that they feed him well, walk him, bath him and of course, give him lots of love. So, in essence, the story subtly incorporates the important issues of adopting a dog and the level of commitment that people need to give when doing so. All is going very well for Rusty; however, when the family leave on the Monday morning for work and pre-school, Rusty finds himself alone again and cries all day. On arriving home later in the afternoon, his family are greeted with lashings of love from Rusty who runs to collect their slippers. When sitting by their lovely smelly feet that night, Rusty comes up with a great idea. As his family sleep, Rusty secretly collects a smelly sock from each one, some easier to retrieve than others, and hides them in his little bed for safekeeping. He is very pleased with himself and knows that these socks smell of his loved ones so, to Rusty, they will always keep his family near to him.