What an adorable read. It was lighthearted and touching. This is a very cute book. Dogs are so resilient and overcome even the most difficult physical obstacles.

Dexter: The Stand up Dog by Bonnie Kelso and Kentee Pasek is a warmhearted true story of a rescue dog that was involved in a tragic accident. As a result he lost one of his legs. Dexter could have given up, yet he persevered and learned to walk. He went on to bring joy not only to his family but to many people especially children across the country.

Thank you so much to Gnome Road Publishing for providing me with an advanced reader copy of Dexter: The Stand-Up Dog by Bonnie Kelso and Kentee Pasek.

I absolutely loved this book. It was incredibly special to see the true story of Dexter—whose determination and adorable spirit helped keep my heart hopeful during the pandemic—brought to life in a way that young readers can understand and be inspired by.

The illustrations are not only vibrant and engaging, but they beautifully capture Dexter’s unique journey. This book is a heartfelt reminder that with resilience and courage, we can overcome even the toughest obstacles.

As a school social worker, I will definitely be adding this to my shelf. It’s a perfect tool to spark meaningful conversations with students about perseverance, positivity, and embracing what makes us different.

The story follows Dexter, a loveably playful pup that has a life altering accident that leaves him with three legs. This book will be great to use in lessons on perseverance, possibly introducing diverse abilities and finding unique life solutions. I'm doubtful to use during open storytimes, but possibly with the right group. Will absolutely use as a book talk book.

What a heartwarming story! Dexter shows that inspiration can just as easily come from the animal kingdom as humans.
Dexter is a true story based on a Brittany Spaniel that became an internet sensation after having an accident and losing a leg and learning to walk on two legs. This wonderful book is written in picture book format so children of all ages can enjoy.
Thank you to coauthor Kentee Pasek, illustrator and coauthor Bonnie Kelso and Gnome Road publishing. Also thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

The cutest story ever! My daughter loved it and keeps asking for me to read it again and again! We’ll can’t wait until release day for a physical copy. It was a sweet surprise for her to see it wa shaded in Colorado, where we now live after a military move!

Dexter is a wonderfully illustrated story of the magnificent Dexter - the dog who walks on two legs. The story follows Dexter from his puppyhood, to a devastating accident, through his healing and ultimately his fame as an internet sensation during COVID.

We enjoyed the story, though my four year old had a lot of questions about what happened to his leg and why it was missing. It was a good lesson about why we always say cars are dangerous and we must keep the door closed so the dogs don’t run into the street!

What an absolute delight! Dexter is a beautifully crafted story that radiates positivity and perseverance throughout. The illustrations are particularly noteworthy—they bring the narrative to life with vibrant color, thoughtful image selection, and an incredible attention to detail that perfectly captures Dexter’s personality.

Even the more nostalgic or reflective moments are elevated by the art, which keeps the energy engaging and the tone heartfelt. The balance between visual storytelling and emotional resonance is handled with impressive finesse.

Though this may be marketed for younger readers, I can confidently say it holds universal appeal. As an adult reader, I’ve already revisited it three times—and each read brought something new to appreciate. It’s adorable, uplifting, and undeniably memorable. I highly recommend it to readers of all ages.

What a lovely storybook for children. Clear, bold, attractive illustrations. With the message that you can overcome adversity and the power of resilience and perseverance.

What a lovely little read Dexter was. The illustrations are joyful and the story is heartfelt! I thought this was well executed and would be a lovely addition to any family looking to contextualize a very real world experience.

This book was precious!!! Oh my goodness, Dexter won my heart. And then to find out he's a real dog?! I just had to look him up. This was such a touching story and a great message about overcoming obstacles. The illustrations were beautiful. I think it's great for all ages! Loved it! Thank you to Gnome Road Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!

A pleasant read that I think would be perfect for elementary aged children. The story was cohesive and the illustrations were fantastic. There are a few pages, however that has the font blending in too closely to the background making it difficult to read.

Not me sobbing while reading this. This was so pure and cute and wholesome with a positive message. This story will be perfect for kids of all ages to learn that any obstacle can be conquered if you just put your mind to it.

There were some pacing/narrative gaps for me, so while I wouldn’t use this for a readaloud, I would definitely buy for my elementary collection. Kids love books about dogs! And I do love books inspired by true stories.

“Dexter the Stand Up Dog” is a children’s picture book about a dog who loses one of his legs in an accident and learns to walk upright.

I hadn’t heard of Dexter before this book, and his story definitely carries important themes of resilience for children. However, the portions depicting his accident are a little scary, and my five-year-old, who feels very deeply, especially when it comes to animals, was very upset by the scary accident and ensuing vet stay. The book is written in a simple way for young children, but it can be very heavy and scary for that audience as well, so I did take down a star because it felt like it could have either been a bit less scary or written a bit more maturely for an older audience.

The illustrations are lovely and detailed, and my daughter and I talked about each page as we read.

It really is a nice story about overcoming obstacles packaged in a very relatable way for kids. We had a conversation after about how people can have accidents and handicaps too but they can still do lots of things. It also led to some fun looking up the real Dexter’s content online. However, if your little ones are prone to big feelings or have lost a pet, it might be a little overwhelming.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced read.

I loved this book! Dexter is such a brave little dog! I’m not sure how little kids would feel about his accident. I think lots of discussion would be necessary.

The illustrations were perfect. Realistic enough but also cartoon like so as to avoid nightmares.

I could see this book in a therapy center or vet’s office and being quite effective.

I received this book through Net Galley and am thankful. I have written an unbiased review without incentive.

This was such a cute book. The Story of Dexter the internet sensation. Dexter is an inspiration for sure. He taught himself to walk in his hind legs after an accident took one of his legs and injured another one. Definitely recommend for everyone!

This story is based on a true story of a dog that learns to walk upright, has fun and colorful illustrations, and would be fun for all dog lovers.

There is a sad point with an accident so this book may be better for school age children rather than toddlers depending on how well the child understands tragic events.

I thought the mention of the pandemic was unnecessary and if removed would make the story a little more timeless. Also, potentially confusing for a toddler audience or even school age audience who didn't live through the pandemic or was very young. But I also understand the relevance as a major event in the true story.

I missed out on this viral dog so picking out the book from the NetGalley camp offerings and not reading the description, I definitely thought it was about a dog doing stand-up commedy.

Sad start to the story with a happy ending. I enjoyed the art work and the determination of Dexter. A few parts were hard to read the black print over dark background colors. I know it's a true situation, but the dog getting hurt was sad and made my son a little worried his dog would jump the fence and get hurt. Otherwise cute book.

This was a cute story about a dog who went viral on social media. I enjoyed the story and learning more about Dexter. The artwork was well done and very detailed. I would caution parents that there is a possibly scary part for younger or sensitive children. I read this book on my phone and the details in the e-version were great, I'm excited to see this book in stores!