My kids have recently gotten into the habit of approaching dog owners and asking to pet their dogs. Of course, I taught them this, as you should never run up to a dog you don’t know without asking! However, my kids had not yet learned about the fact that you can not pet a guide dog while he or she is working. This is just one of the things they learned about from Cindy Lou and Sammy Too Go To The Mall: The Adventures of a Guide Dog Team by Cheryl McNeil Fisher.
“Cheryl McNeil Fisher often meets children who ask her about her constant companion, Sanka, her devoted guide dog. Their genuine curiosity and interest in her guide dog moved Fisher to tell Sanka’s story in the form of an early chapter picture book, allowing young ones to better understand the challenges of her life, and how her guide dog provides invaluable support. The end result follows Fisher’s alter ego, Cindy, and her Golden Retriever, Sammy, as the beloved and trusted canine who narrates a shopping trip first-hand. As Cindy Lou and Sammy travel through the shops, people stop to pet Sammy, but Cindy kindly asks them not to, explaining that he’s working and needs to remain focused on his job. The book expertly explains why others should never disrupt a guide dog. Sammy also shares the rules he follows in his daily life, such as why he is only allowed to eat at certain times during the day, and what certain commands from Cindy mean to him. Readers learn that although guide dogs are allowed everywhere with their owners, managers of stores and restaurants will often ask for proof that Sammy is in fact a service dog. Sammy tells readers that if he and Cindy are only one step
out of sync with each other, Cindy can easily get hurt.”
I love that the book is told from the point of view of the dog. Sammy is a loveable character who cares for his partner while she navigates a shopping trip. The view point shows that the dog understands his job and has feelings about his daily life. The reading level of the book is great for grades 1-3. We very much enjoyed learning about blind people and their dog companions from this book.
I was excited to hear that book number two will be released in April 2015. Cindy and Sammy will be going to school. They will have fun and educate the children in situations taking place in the lunch room, the gym, and during other activities throughout the school. They will also concentrate on how Cindy and Sammy relate in their individual ways to children with sensory sensitivities.
Cheryl McNeil Fisher has a bachelor’s degree in counseling from SUNY and attended the divinity program at Bethel University. For the past twenty years, she has been speaking throughout the United States about blindness and how her guide dog has transformed her life, even appearing on Martha Stewart’s radio program.
If you are interested in this book, the kindle version is free through the end of October! If you would like an autographed copy, you can email the author at doggoneitpublishing@gmail.com and pay her directly via paypal.
I received this book in exchange for my review. No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.