4 out of 4 stars
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It's amazing how much one simple decision can change the future. That's not really something I'd say about many children's books, but Fanny the Champ by Nalini Raghunandan is an exception.
Fanny the Champ is the first in a series of books about a very good dog named Fanny. A long time ago, Mr. Ed found Fanny as a scared little puppy. He took him in and he's been a part of his family ever since! The book introduces readers to Fanny and the fishing town that he lives in before revealing how he earned the nickname "Fanny the Champ."
The first thing I noticed about Fanny the Champ was the artwork. The landscapes and characters are captured very well, and enough different locations are used to really make it feel like a busy, friendly town. So many children's books reuse the same backgrounds, but Fanny the Champ shows readers the beach, fishmongers selling their catches, the woods, Mr. Ed's home, and more. The art quality is great, and Fanny is especially terrific on each page.
The story is lovely too, and the writing is perfectly edited. Fanny loves to eat fish, greet the townsfolk, and travel through the town with Mr. Ed. Fanny the Champ also shows off how great a "simpler," more active life in the outdoors can be. I could practically feel the sea breeze on my face while I was reading! The book also teaches an important lesson about the danger of going out into the water alone and just how quickly fun can turn into tragedy.
I really liked Fanny the Champ. It reminded me of how wonderful the beach was but also worked as a reminder to be careful, especially if you bring young children along with you. Parents who are looking to take their kids to the beach, families who live near a beach, and kids who love dogs will get a kick out of Fanny's adventures. My rating of the book is 4 out of 4 stars.
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Fanny the Champ
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