This story of dog trainer Jim and the dogs who bravely saved him from drowning in an icy lake will attract the attention of young readers, especially reluctant ones. Realistic watercolors capture the drama and suspense of the accessible text. There are no sources to confirm the story's veracity, but the carefully written prose doesn't seem to fictionalize events.

K-Gr 2-Jim grew up in a dog-loving family, and, not surprisingly, becomes a dog trainer. He owns a black rottweiler and a golden retriever, both of whom love to walk with him on a frozen lake. One day, Jim falls through the ice. He waves his pets away, but Tiree falls into the water along with him. Tara lowers her body to the ice and crawls close to him. Tiree climbs out over Jim's back, and then, the two dogs together are able to pull him out. The vocabulary is especially well matched to the needs of beginning readers with much repetition and simple sentences. Beier's watercolor illustrations add realistic details. Pet lovers will relish this simple, but satisfying tale of heroic and loyal pets.-Marilyn Taniguchi, Beverly Hills Public Library, CA Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.