School Library Journal (Mon Feb 06 00:00:00 CST 2023)

Gr 4-6-When Booford, a woebegone-looking dog, moves in next door with his unfriendly and seemingly neglectful owner, fifth-grader Hayley is determined to improve his life. She begins by visiting him when Mr. Wood is gone. Not satisfied with this approach, she seeks some advice from her father, who suggests that she offer to walk him. Much to her surprise, Mr. Wood agrees to her proposal. Eventually, she not only befriends the dog, but the man as well. He finally explains to Hayley that Booford was his wife's dog; when she left him, she left Booford, too. Although Hayley is a softhearted, intuitive heroine, and her love and concern for animals ring true, her persistent concern for the taciturn, intimidating Mr. Wood at times seems implausible. However, the theme of taking responsibility for one's pets is effectively woven throughout the story. Readers will enjoy this crusading girl's adventures with Booford and her five formerly stray cats.-Carol Schene, Taunton Public Schools, MA

ALA Booklist (Mon Feb 06 00:00:00 CST 2023)

Ten-year-old Hayley Larkin cares deeply about animals--especially her own five cats and the sad, floppy-eared mutt named Booford that has just moved in across the street. Booford's owner, Mr. Wood, keeps the dog chained to a tree, never taking it for walks or exercise. After trying to ignore the plaintive barking, Hayley finally requests permission to walk Booford herself, and, to her surprise, the grumpy Mr. Wood agrees. During the next few weeks her attentions and concern do wonders for the lonely pup, and even begin to thaw the reserve of its reclusive owner. Set in small-town Virginia, the story is peopled with interesting characters who deal with believable problems, and Mr. Wood's metamorphosis from a cold, unfeeling loner to a caring person is well-handled. Although safety issues are ignored (a child seeking out a hostile stranger seems ill-advised, even in a small town), the story never lags and will be popular with animal lovers. (Reviewed September 15, 1994)

Horn Book (Mon Feb 06 00:00:00 CST 2023)

When animal-loving Hayley confronts her new neighbor about his lack of attention to his dog, she discovers that he, Mr. Wood, is the one who really needs rescuing. Hayley learns that her reclusive neighbor is unhappy over his failed marriage, and eventually her muddled attempts to help show Mr. Wood that he is still capable of caring. Humorous and poignant by turns, with a believable, appealing ten-year-old heroine.

Kirkus Reviews (Thu Apr 28 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

Booford is the dog who just moved into the house across the street from ten-year-old Hayley Larken. Gregarious, animal-loving Hayley is outraged because Booford's owner, mean Mr. Wood, yells at the dog and never takes him for walks. She concocts schemes to get Mr. Wood to walk Booford, but finally follows her father's advice and just asks Mr. Wood if she can walk his dog. To Hayley's surprise, he agrees. Hayley begins walking Booford and making friends with Mr. Wood, who is not really mean at all, merely lonely. She discovers that Mr. Wood's wife has left him ``to find herself'' and that Booford was her dog. No wonder Mr. Wood looks so sad! Hayley then decides to help Mr. Wood just as she had helped the now happy Booford. But calling Mr. Wood's wife in Richmond is going too far. After a small blowup and a little drama, Hayley realizes that butting in to Mr. Wood's life is not the answer. The best thing she can do for him is just to be his friend. Smith pulls out all the standard children's-book tricks here: the not-really-mean next-door neighbor; the kindly, all-knowing dad; the spunky, busy-body heroine and her Trekkie best friend. The lack of a reunion between Mr. Wood and his wife is the only somewhat surprising element, but Smith makes even that seem conventional. A write-by-numbers novel. (Fiction. 8-11)"