A Very Unusual Dog
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A Very Unusual Dog is a fun story about imaginary friends, and sharing.
Jonathan has a very unusual dog. It eats toast crumbs, goes to the park (but not the slide), and sleeps on the floor of Jonathan's room on his good sweater. Oh yes, and Dog is invisible.
Jonathan's big sister doesn't believe Dog is real. And after all, she's seven and knows everything. But Jonathan doesn't doubt it's existence, and neither does Grandma.
Nothing in the text or illustrations confirms or disproves Dog's existence. The toast crumbs disappear overnight, and the leash and collar which Jonathan uses to take Dog for a walk drifts off the edge of the page so the reader can't see if it's dragging on the ground or not. It's a nice ambiguity for kids who half believe and half don't believe in their own imaginary friends. Even the sister starts to believe, with her insistence that Dog not sit on the couch, and that he will get dog hair on Jonathan's sweater.
When Jonathan discovers that Grandma had a cat a long time ago, but isn't allowed pets in her current apartment he knows there's someone who needs Dog more than he does.
The illustrations, by Kim LaFave are done in warm tones and hazy edges —- a perfect fit for this charming story that's suitable for ages 3-7.
