November 1, 2016
PreS-Gr 2-A beautiful book that's not a tie-in to the movie Pete's Dragon but an original story and an element within the movie itself. Elliot is a small puppy going on a car trip and camping adventure with his family of Little Boy, Mom, and Dad. But when he gets overexcited and knocks over the tent, he runs into the woods in shame and quickly gets lost. Several forest animals come to Elliot's aid but reiterate, "You need to find your family." Indeed, Elliot misses his family, who are waiting somewhere outside the woods. As dusk falls, he howls at the North Star in despair. The forest animals join together to help Elliot get back to his Little Boy and the campsite that night, the place that is "right where he belongs." This tale is unique for its prominent placement in the movie as Pete's only treasured reminder of his parents and his past. The movie's plot is also suggestively mirrored by the book's story, with dialogue and illustrations directly referencing scenes from the movie. Yet this title can still be enjoyed on its own merit. VERDICT The story is well written in spare text perfect for reading aloud, with charming, folk art-inspired illustrations. Guaranteed to be a great bedtime selection with broad appeal both on its own and in conjunction with the movie.-Jessica Bushore, Xenia, OH
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