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erinj254's review against another edition
5.0
I'm a sucker for a tearjerker real-life soldier dog story.
sandylovesbooks's review against another edition
5.0
A true story of a remarkable little dog. Rags is a little mutt who became one of the first war dogs to help soldiers in WWI. He would run messages back and forth and helped save many lives.
backonthealex's review against another edition
3.0
This is the story of a mongrel dog who was surviving by his wits in Paris when he was found by an American soldier named James Donovan during an air raid after the Americans entered WWI.
Private Donovan felt sorry for the hungry, scruffy, scared pup, giving him the very suitable name Rags. When the air raid was over, Donovan took Rags back to his army base, where he was ordered to pack up this gear so he could leave for the battlefield that night. And yes, Rags went with him.
It didn't take long for Rags to become a favorite with the soldiers and to adjust to infantry life in the trenches. He was immediately put to work, chasing mice and rats out of the trench where Donovan was fighting. Donovan was a radio operator and soon Rags was delivering important messages all up and down the trenches.
It didn't take long for Rags to become quite the hero. In October 1918, little more than a month before the war ended, Donovan and Rags were both seriously injured in a terrible battle, but not before Rags got a message through that helps the Allies win the battle. At the army hospital, a kind doctor found Rags and took care of his injuries. From then on, Rags was blind in one eye, deaf in one ear and walked with a limp. Sadly, Donovan did not survive his injuries.
Rags: Hero Dog of WWI is really a picture book for older readers, though there are not real resources at the back of the book. It is well written, but though the story is based on an actual dog, it is really historical fiction. Still, it is an inspiring work and is sure to please kids who like animal stories. By the same token, it introduces the reader to some of the horrors of war in a gentle, age appropriate way.
The soft, muted realistic illustrations by Petra Brown are sure to tug at the heartstrings. I know they did mine.
This book is recommended for readers age 7+
This book was borrowed from the NYPL
Private Donovan felt sorry for the hungry, scruffy, scared pup, giving him the very suitable name Rags. When the air raid was over, Donovan took Rags back to his army base, where he was ordered to pack up this gear so he could leave for the battlefield that night. And yes, Rags went with him.
It didn't take long for Rags to become a favorite with the soldiers and to adjust to infantry life in the trenches. He was immediately put to work, chasing mice and rats out of the trench where Donovan was fighting. Donovan was a radio operator and soon Rags was delivering important messages all up and down the trenches.
It didn't take long for Rags to become quite the hero. In October 1918, little more than a month before the war ended, Donovan and Rags were both seriously injured in a terrible battle, but not before Rags got a message through that helps the Allies win the battle. At the army hospital, a kind doctor found Rags and took care of his injuries. From then on, Rags was blind in one eye, deaf in one ear and walked with a limp. Sadly, Donovan did not survive his injuries.
Rags: Hero Dog of WWI is really a picture book for older readers, though there are not real resources at the back of the book. It is well written, but though the story is based on an actual dog, it is really historical fiction. Still, it is an inspiring work and is sure to please kids who like animal stories. By the same token, it introduces the reader to some of the horrors of war in a gentle, age appropriate way.
The soft, muted realistic illustrations by Petra Brown are sure to tug at the heartstrings. I know they did mine.
This book is recommended for readers age 7+
This book was borrowed from the NYPL
kkondrick's review against another edition
5.0
A beautiful story about a mutt that helps our troops during World War I. THe dog doesn't die in this one...but bring a hankie!
Book Number 68/365
Book Number 68/365
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