A working farm dog and an anxious boy become best friends.Gus is a livestock guardian dog who excels at protecting the sheep. A Great Pyrenees (illustrated as a massive, fluffy sweetheart), he's lived outdoors his whole life, unlike the farm's other dogs. He's fond of "boss lady" Esperanza and her daughter, Cloe, and the other canines, including Stella, a service dog who alerts Cloe to seizures (and the protagonist of Stella, 2021). Gus, however, is a working dog at his very core. When a bear attacks, Gus is there-and when he leaps into the fray to protect one of the other dogs, he is gravely injured. The hardworking dog can't bear being indoors as he heals and is comforted only by Diego, Cloe's shy, soft-spoken cousin. Through Gus' lightly anthropomorphized thoughts (he carefully reports all human conversations he hears despite not necessarily understanding everything), Diego's overwhelming anxiety is apparent but is eased through his bond with Gus, and soon the dog realizes he has a new purpose as an emotional support animal for Diego. This is a comforting, quiet tale of a working dog slowly transitioning into a new life. Featuring a lovable animal protagonist, a relatable and persistent child trainer, and dog-training information, it's a compelling read. Gus doesn't report much on dog-irrelevant details like human appearance, though he's very invested in the taste of ice cream, but his reports of conversations cue his human family as being Latine.A gentle portrayal of a canine protagonist adjusting to a new role. (discussion questions) (Fiction. 7-10)

Gr 3–7 —In a tale just right for dog lovers, Gus is a Great Pyrennes, bred to protect, but has always longed for his own person. Gus tells his story though he relates all the conversations he overhears and doesn't understand, helping readers to follow events that are beyond his doggy ken. Up until a bear arrived in the neighborhood, Gus was an outdoor dog, protecting sheep and chickens on a farm run by Esperanza and Cloe, her daughter, and their two indoor dog companions. Injured in his efforts to protect the farm, Gus becomes an inside dog and is befriended by their cousin Diego, who is severely shyness. Diego and his father return to their beach house bringing Gus where a persnickety neighbor tries to oust Gus from the neighborhood based on homeowner's association rules. Gus's good nature is tested as is Diego's willingness to speak up for himself. Their bond becomes the basis for a solution that satisfies all and allows each person involved dignity and respect. Peaceful conflict resolution is showcased throughout in thoughtful non-didactic ways. This is short enough to possibly appeal to reluctant readers or to be read by advanced readers in second or third grade. VERDICT As a read-aloud to the canine obsessed in the early grades or just an engaging tale for dog lovers, Hoyle quietly unleashes a barking good tale. Its charm is due to Gus and to a real love of dogs.—Carol A. Edwards