ALA Booklist (Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)

After moving into a new home, a boy asks for a dog, and his dad agrees, saying, "If you promise to take care of it." The boy chooses Toby, a somewhat worried-looking dog at the shelter. When Toby howls that night, the boy comforts him. When Toby wets the floor, he mops it up. When Toby gets spooked by a cat in the yard, he calms him down. They begin to play together, but there are setbacks: Toby tramples Dad's flowers, and then mangles his glasses. Still, when Toby finds a missing shoe one morning, the boy can finally say, "Good dog, Toby!" Written from the boy's point of view, the first-person narrative defines the story, though the ending is a bit inconclusive. The book's warmth and appeal come from the artwork. Pencil drawings are tinted with a soft palate of watercolor washes and digitally added colors. And while the soft browns, blues, greens, and grays create a subdued, rather melancholy tone throughout the book, both the boy and his lovable dog are smiling by the final scene.

Kirkus Reviews

A timid rescue dog learns to get along with his new owners, a lonely boy and his single dad.When the unnamed narrator and his father move into a new house together, the boy finds a notice from an animal-rescue agency and asks if he can adopt a dog. At the shelter, the boy chooses Toby, a shy, midsized dog with fluffy, white fur. At first Toby is shy and withdrawn, but he gradually learns to like the boy and play with him. The untrained dog then begins to get in trouble around the house, including chewing the dad's glasses, leading to the dad's suggestion that the dog might need to be returned to the shelter. The boy swiftly trains Toby to obey basic commands, and in the conclusion, Toby redeems himself by finding the boy's missing shoe. While the dog is an appealing character and the bonding of child and canine is heartwarming, Toby's obedience training is unrealistically quick, and the lack of guidance and participation by the father in the dog's integration into the family is distressing. Subdued illustrations in pencil and watercolor wash project a melancholy air suited to the somewhat sad little boy, who clearly needs the unquestioning love and companionship of his new pet. The main characters and a neighbor girl are all white, with a dark-skinned mother and daughter shown with their two dogs in a park scene on the final endpapers. Toby is a pleasing pup, but his story doesn't stand out from the crowded pack of dog tales. (author's note) (Picture book. 4-7)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Inspired by her own dog-s adoption story, illustrator Mitchell-s (Kenya-s Art) first book as author centers on a boy who has moved into a new neighborhood with his (presumably single) father. Featuring a pale color scheme dominated by blues and beiges, the mixed-media art, displayed in full-page and panel configurations, dominates the pages. The perfunctory text consists of the boy-s succinct commentary and dialogue with his father. -Well, if you promise to take care of it, we can,- says the man in response to his son-s request for a dog. At a shelter, the child selects Toby, a furry, floppy-eared dog who has difficulty adjusting to his new life, despite the boy-s prodding and training efforts. After the father suggests, -Maybe Toby isn-t the right dog for us after all,- the dog rapidly picks up a few tricks. But while it seems clear that Toby has found his home, the story doesn-t end so much as stop, abruptly. The highlight of this getting-to-know-you tale is Mitchell-s visual channeling of her characters- emotions, both human and canine. Ages 4-6. Agent: Ginger Knowlton, Curtis Brown. (Sept.)

School Library Journal (Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)

PreS-Gr 1 Mitchell honors her puppy-mill rescue dog by modeling her new picture book hero on him. Told in first person by an unnamed boy with new-to-the-neighborhood loneliness, the tale centers on his attempt to convince his single dad to adopt a shelter dog. Toby's initial shyness unfolds to charming exuberance, but his mischief includes floor puddles, a trampled garden, and eyeglass destruction. Fortunately, the boy's commitment to behavior training and Toby's well-timed discovery of a lost shoe create a cuddly conclusion. The graphite and watercolor wash illustrations are digitally colored with muted hues. Mitchell enlists a variety of compositions, from graphic novel-style panels to full spreads. The fluffy white pup's expressions echo the varying moods of the narrative. VERDICT This familiar story with a family cast not often seen in picture books will warm dog-loving hearts. Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA