Buzz is such a good boy. Sort of. He does what he is told, spends lots of time inside his fancy house, and takes perfect care of his appearance. This means perfectly groomed fur, no rain or puddles, and certainly no rolling in the mud.
He’s been told that dogs who bark at each other and run off their lead and play in the park are dangerous. Mean. Wild.
When a sneaky puddle jump results in a horrible grooming session, Buzz rebels. He takes himself outside and off to the park alone and explores all the things that are usually forbidden. Tasting and digging and scratching at trees. Life feels a whole lot better outside the house than in.
This story is open-ended. It implies Buzz is happier with his freedom and that his owners never cared much for him anyway. My heart went out to both parties – poor Buzz, never finding someone who allowed him that freedom. Poor humans, never realising what a dog needs- but it is a powerful story that could educate young readers about animal friends. The word ‘pet’ always feels horribly misleading to me, or else indicative of the attitudes humans had when they began bringing animal friends indoors. Pet implies ownership. That another animal is there to entertain and comfort the human. As a cat lover I know that the truest joy is forming a real bond. Acknowledging and respecting the different needs of each cat and getting to know their different personalities.
Illustrations lead the story – as the text first reflects the ideas of his humans, Buzz’s miserable facial expressions as he is shut in and longing looks at puddles and dogs having fun show the reader how he feels about the situation. As Buzz breaks free in the middle of the story, the tone of the text changes too. It is as if Buzz has literally started putting words to his own story, his voice getting louder and more confident until he seizes control of his destiny at the end of the story. This interplay is worth pointing out to young readers. Asking questions like ‘whose idea might this be?’ will encourage early textual analysis skills.
A moving and joyful story that encourages a genuine understanding of other animals and their needs.
- Such a Good Boy by Marianna Coppo is available now, RRP. £12.99, from Chronicle Books (Provided for review)
