Jake the Growling Dog Goes to Doggy Daycare

Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

Are you ever worried about a new situation? Going to a new school? Or a new daycare? Jake was worried about going to doggy daycare. His owners were going away and he was going to be left at a doggy daycare for a couple of days. He'd never been there before. He was worried the people and the other dogs at the doggy daycare wouldn't like him, or, worse, they'd be scared every time he growled. You see, Jake's a happy, fun-loving dog who growls about everything. It doesn't mean he is angry or vicious; he just gets excited and growls. His friend, Neet, a black squirrel, helps ease Jake's worries. It's always good to have a friend who cares.

Samantha Shannon's picture book story, Jake the Growling Dog Goes to Doggy Daycare: A Children's Book about Trying New Things, Friendship, Comfort, and Kindness, is another adventure in the Jake the Growling Dog series. Told in rhyming verse and accompanied by colorful and fascinating illustrations, the plot develops as Jake struggles between excitement and fear of going to a new place, the doggy daycare. Enter his friend, Neet, and the fears ease, but the conflicting feelings are still there. The conflict continues until Jake is settled in at the doggy daycare and one problem after another is resolved as Jake makes new friends. The story is well told and will certainly help young readers confront their own fears of new people and new situations and places. At the end of the book, the author provides some interactive Jake-inspired exercises to further help young readers deal with their fears. A wonderful story told with compassion and care and it is fun to read.

Samantha Shannon is a best-selling author and licensed educational counselor who uses her background in education, love for nature and animals, and experience aiding in the emotional social development of children to create fun and impactful books. Samantha has also published multiple books under her pen name, Parker Sinclair, in the fantasy and YA genres.
Visit: parkersinclair.net & jakethegrowlingdog.com for more information or find all books on Amazon and IngramSpark.

Samantha's love for creatures great and small has led her to incorporate animals in all of the books, from eagles to cheetahs! Throughout her life, Samantha's family has always included a dog, and they've always been more than pets. They were fur-brothers, sisters, and babies.

When Samantha had her first child in 2009, she wanted to write a picture book based on her sister's dog, Jake. While visiting her sister in the Pacific Northwest, Samantha realized that Jake growled all the time. He growled while playing frisbee, getting an ear rub, running, and even when he was sleeping! Despite his unusual choice of noisemaking, Jake is a sweet dog, which makes him the perfect character for a children's picture book.

With Samantha's background in educational counseling, Jake's first story includes a character education & loving-kindness activity for families, schools, & counselors. Jake's story speaks to all of us about accepting, and appreciating, the differences in others--both caring attitudes we need in our diverse and beautiful world.