Horn Book (Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2011)

Pup Dixie tries to help her owner Emma study for the role of Dorothy in the school's Wizard of Oz production. Some unintentional mischief-making ensues, but Dixie does her best to behave--and she shines as Toto alongside Emma in the play. Spirited illustrations capture the exuberance of the eager puppy.

ALA Booklist (Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 CDT 2011)

When Dixie's owner, Emma, is cast as Dorothy in the school production of The Wizard of Oz, the little yellow canine is sad that Emma is too busy to play. Dixie's efforts to reclaim Emma's attention climax when she steals one of the ruby slippers. Seeing Emma in tears, Dixie realizes how important the production is to her, and the slipper is returned in time for the show to go on. This entry in the I Can Read! series should make for a successful experience for the brand-new reader. The simple sentences are accompanied by uncluttered, realistic, brightly colored paintings that complement the story and provide clues to help the reader decipher the text. The story's pacing is slow for a more advanced reader, but this won't deter a child just learning to read. It is a bit implausible that Emma must learn all her lines in just the three days that exist between the audition and opening night; however, this minor flaw is not enough to mar the reader's enjoyment.

Kirkus Reviews

An easy-to-read story about a little girl's dream of playing Dorothy with her own dog, Dixie, in the role of Toto. Dixie is initially excited when Emma, her owner, is chosen to be the star of the school production of The Wizard of Oz. Anything that makes Emma happy makes Dixie happy. "All you have to do is follow me everywhere," Emma reassures the pup. That sounds perfect to the dog. When Dixie realizes that the play preparations are cutting into her Emma time, though, she retaliates by hiding with one of the ruby slippers, leaving Dorothy with no Toto and only one shoe. With very short sentences, ample white space and sight-word vocabulary, this will be accessible to the earliest readers. A straightforward, comforting plot, coupled with rich, full-color illustrations, adds appeal. Dixie's antics are particularly energetic—she runs in circles around the pages while Emma holds her red pigtails in exasperation. When Emma thinks all is lost, the illustration droops in empathy: Her fuzzy-bear slippers' faces frown; the picture on the wall shows Dixie walking away; and her stuffed animal dejectedly flops over the edge of the bed.  The dog-and-girl friendship deepens as Emma realizes that her sweet Dixie is truly her best pal. New readers looking for a good confidence builder should grab this one. (Early reader. 4-8)

School Library Journal

SIERRA, Judy . Never Kick a Ghost and Other Silly Chillers . illus. by Pascale Constantin. bibliog. Aug. ISBN 978-0-06-143519-5 ; ISBN 978-0-06-143521-8 . ea vol: 32p. (I Can Read! Series). HarperCollins . 2011. Tr $16.99; pap. $3.99. LC number unavailable. PreS-Gr 1 In the first appealing beginning reader, Gilman captures the antics of a devoted puppy and her owner as the child tries out for the lead in her school play. Mischief and mayhem ensue as Dixie attempts to help Emma learn her lines for the part of Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz . The colorful, realistic illustrations have strong context support and are well balanced on the page, providing a warmhearted perspective to the story line. Children with the acting bug will enjoy Emma's excitement up through performance day, delighting when Dixie gets a lead part, too. Never Kick a Ghost is a collection of stories filled with suspense, silliness, and chills. The whimsical, full-color illustrations enliven the texts. The stories' origins are explained in the back matter. This is a supplementary early reader, particularly for Halloween. Melissa Smith, Royal Oak Public Library, MI