________________ CM . . . . Volume XVIII Number 38 . . . . June 1, 2012

cover

The Rainbow Bridge: A Visit to Pet Paradise.

Adrian Raeside.
Madeira Park, BC: Harbour Publishing, 2012.
32 pp., pbk., $9.95.
ISBN 978-1-55017-584-4.

Kindergarten-grade 3 / Ages 5-8.

Review by Carla Epp.

***½ /4

   

excerpt:

The strange dog picked up the squeaky toy and wandered toward the open window. Rick jumped to his feet and snatched the bone out of the dog's mouth.

"That's Koko's toy. Not yours! Ugh. You drool almost as badly as Koko." He wiped the bone off on his pajamas.

The dog smiled. "I know, I'm taking him his squeaky bone. He forgot it."

"But, but Koko is..."

"At the Rainbow Bridge."

Rick stared at the big dog. "No, Koko is dead!" He paused. "What's the Rainbow Bridge?"

"Not for you to know. Now give me back that bone, I must be going."

Rick put his arms around the old dog's neck. "Please take me with you!"


In Adrian Raeside's The Rainbow Bridge: A Visit to Pet Paradise, readers meet seven-year-old Rick and his beloved dog, Koko. They are enjoying an endless summer of play and adventures, but before long, the seasons change, and readers find out that Koko is old and sick. Koko passes away quietly one day, and Rick finds the loss hard to bear. Christmas is coming, and Rick believes it will be the worst Christmas ever without his dog to share it with! But on Christmas Eve, Rick receives a visit from a strange dog named Buster who is trying to steal Koko's squeaky bone. Rick begs Buster to let him come along to the Rainbow Bridge, and, although Buster declines, Rick jumps on his departing back for the ride to see where Koko has gone. Rick soon finds out that the Rainbow Bridge is a place pets go to wait for their owners to come claim them after the owners pass away. At the Rainbow Bridge, there are endless flying Frisbees, fields of catnip, and "nobody has to get brushed". Rick is comforted knowing that Koko is happy, and, when he finally returns home, he finds a wonderful surprise.

internal art      The reader feels compassion for Rick and his loss and will be relieved to be introduced to the Rainbow Bridge as the story continues. Raeside creates a kind home in this story for deceased animals, and, while he treats the subject with respect, there are still humorous moments throughout, such as finding out that Buster is a flatulent dog messenger. The illustrations also add fun to the story as they are cartoon drawings in which all the characters have big googly eyes. The story is a little text heavy, and, although aimed at children ages 5-8, it may be too long for some children. Overall though, it is a good addition for most libraries and will be particularly enjoyed by pet lovers as it makes a difficult topic accessible and a joy to read about.

Highly Recommended.

Carla Epp is a librarian with Winnipeg Public Library in Winnipeg. MB.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.
Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364
Hosted by the University of Manitoba.
 

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