Book Review: Say Hello to Zorro!

Reviewed by Cameron Crane


Written & Illustrated by Carter Goodrich

Reading level: Ages 4-8

Hardcover: 48 pages

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing (March 22, 2011)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1416938931

Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 9.1 x 0.6 inches

Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounce

This month Little Pickle Press wanted to find a book to address a very important transition— introducing a new member to the family. There is an infinite list of books on this topic, probably because it is usually one of the most difficult transitions for the first child of a family to swallow. When I was first brought home from the hospital and introduced to my big sister, for example, she took one look and me and then turned to my mom and said "I never said I wanted a baby sister, Mom." In the book Say Hello to Zorro! by Carter Goodrich, a dog named Bud has a similar reaction when one day, he is unexpectedly introduced to Zorro.

The Story: Say Hello to Zorro! is the humorous story of a dog named Bud, who has a very good life and a very strict schedule which consists of things like "Nap Time" and "Shift-position-and-nap-some-more time". Every day he wakes up and knows that things will go according to plan. That all changes when one day he runs to the door and is greeted by Zorro, the new dog. Bud is not pleased, but over time, begins to realize his schedule might be as good as before, and maybe even better.

The Rhythm: Goodrich's writing is humorous, well-written and enjoyable. With short and to-the-point sentences, the reader is convinced they are truly seeing the world from a dog's point of view.

The Artwork: Bud and Zorro are brought to life through Goodrich's artwork. There is no question that Goodrich's illustrations make the book, and compliment the text beautifully. They are delightful and capture dog-behavior so perfectly, you can't help but laugh.

The Layout: The layout of Say Hello to Zorro! is very aesthetically pleasing. Most pages have only one or two lines accompanied by a picture, which makes this a great book to read out loud.

The Message: The message in this book is one about adapting to change and enjoying companionship, and that even though at times it may not be easy, life is more fun when you have someone to share it with. Although Bud is sometimes grumpy, and Zorro is sometimes bossy, walks are more fun when they are together, and nap time is more comfortable.

My Only Issue: It would be wonderful if this book was printed in a more environmentally-friendly manner and without a dust jacket.

Conclusion: This is a great book to read to your little ones before bringing home a new sibling (or pet!) or to have simply as fun family story. It is the type of book your children will be begging you to read again. Buy Say Hello to Zorro! from Amazon, your local bookstore, or rent it from your local library to share with the little pickles in your life.