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Reviewed by: Lisa Rice, Middle School Librarian Title: Elf Dog & Owl Head
Author: M. T. Anderson Illustrator: Junyi Wu Publisher: Candlewick
Year: 2023 Good for Grades: 4-8 Genre/Type of Book: J fantasy, adventure, magical, books with dogs as a main character
Content Warnings, or things that other School Librarians should be aware of: Some scenes with meanness towards animals
Recommended for a school library: Yes Reason(s) for choosing the book: A cute cover, a book featuring a dog, and it is by M. T. Anderson!
If you were tasked by the publisher with writing a short quote for the back cover of this book, what would it be: "There's a lot of weird things living up in Mount Norumbega."
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Review:
This book would appeal to a younger middle school /elementary school audience. It features a young boy named Clay and his sisters and family and a dog and their magical adventures, all told in a sweet way. I think it would make a great read aloud for a 3-5 grade classroom. While there are fun black and white pictures, I would have students draw their own, and I think there are a lot of ways younger elementary kids would be able to connect and relate to characters and events in this book. As an adult, I appreciated the imaginative story. I think students will pick it up based on the cover and the description.
The story takes place when a virus has shut everything down, even schools. Clay is upset he can't play with his friends, especially his best friend Levi, and has had it spending so much time with his family, especially his little sister Juniper and big sister DiRossi. There is a discussion of how many people have died due to the virus and how many people are out of work. Summer is on the horizon, and like a lot of kids during Covid, Clay is not sorry the school year is over, as "school during sickness is just useless." (p. 100). He is looking for an adventure, but it is not fun playing frisbee by all by yourself. Little does he know, he is being watched by something with large golden eyes, blue scales, claws, and a toothy mouth, and his adventure is about to begin. A little white dog with the strangest red ears chases the Wyrm away, and the friendship between Clay and Elphinore, the Bulgarian elf-hound is born.
There's a lot of magical and fantastical elements in this book- the People Under the Mountain, the Owl-Head Village, enchanted forests, mysterious mountains, and a grouchy sleepy giant named Vud, who is a bit Eeeyore-like. Death, on his pale horse Trigger Mortis, is also a character. At the Midsummer Night's solstice party, it is said that "Death is always invited. When he calls, we must go. But knowing that the night may be cut short is what makes it so sweet. It is the reason we must dance," (p.173) which is a good reminder for all of us. The book questions what it means to be friends and loyalty and who we can be friends with. There is a brief discussion of climate change and its impact. It is imaginatively written, and I hope it encourages students to be creative in their writing as well.
Number of party hats:
For resources to go with this title, check out this page on Teachingbooks.net
For more information about this book, see the Publisher's Website
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