This is so cute and a great true story put in a kid friendly way. The colours was sometimes hard to read.

I have been following Dexter on TikTok for some time and was so excited to see a book about this fur baby!

What a resilient, inspiring dog.

I love him so much.

This book is so wonderful. I’m obsessed. I heavily recommend for readers of all ages.

Thank you so much for this ARC! I appreciate the opportunity to leave honest feedback voluntarily.

This was a sweet story! Illustrations were perfectly nostalgic for my own childhood. The story had a perfect mix of cuteness, life lesson, wonder/whimsy, and truth. I would love to meet Dexter! That’s wild that he taught himself to walk like that and I’m glad that he found a new lease on life. Life can knock you down sometimes but it’s important to never give up and this book clearly showcases that.

5/5 starssss

This was so cute and so well written. Stories about doggies always pull at my heartstrings so I literally was locked in to this book like it was an adult book lol. The only thing I would say is to make the text white when it's on a darker background, as it was a bit hard to read. But I loved the story and the illustrations!!!

OMG this book is so cute! I had not heard of Dexter until I got a review copy of the book from NetGalley. It’s a very quick read and one that I think children will love. The illustrations are very cute. After reading the book I was inspired to look for more about him online. What an amazing dog and story.

A review copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley but this did not influence my opinion or rating of the book.

Are you crying? 'Cus I'm crying. As an adult reader I think it's a heartfelt, little book about a dog over-coming physical barriers. But I'm not sure if I'd read this to my preschool class (3-4 year olds). The part about how the dog lost a limb could be pretty spooky to children and some of my more sensitive kiddos might get a little stuck in that emotional aspect. Even I was like "oh my gosh, no! This is sad!".
I'd recommend for older children who can understand the bigger picture of the story, because it is heartwarming and encouraging.

Dexter, a book about a reckless puppy who runs too fast until he has an accident, but with a lot of will, and two strong legs he managed to walk just as is, because he ain't stopping.

This was cute, illustrations are nice, I really liked the way they dont use words to tell whats going on, however a really dark font was used at several pages and it was almost impossible to read.
Besides that is a cute story.
Recommended for young children.

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for this copy in exchange of an honest review.

What a sweet story about Dexter. A great way to show kids that changes and difference are OK. Accommodations work with some patients. Very sweet book about a fantastic dog!

This was a sweet, cute book about Dexter, the walking dog. It tells his story of adoption and how he was injured and overcame his injury to become an internet sensation during Covid.
I hadn’t heard of Dexter but the only dog I’ve owned in my lifetime was a Britney Spaniel. I thought the book was well done in an informative and entertaining format that both kids and parents would enjoy.

Dexter: The Stand Up Dog by Bonnie Kelso completely stole my heart. The illustrations are beautiful and full of personality, and I loved every single page. I was genuinely shocked (in the best way!) when I realized this was based on a true story—Dexter is a real dog with a truly incredible journey! His perseverance and determination are the heart of this book, and the message is so clear: with grit and a positive spirit, anything is possible. It’s the perfect children’s book—uplifting, sweet, and 100% unforgettable. A must-read for every young reader (and honestly, adults too!).

An inspiring and heartwarming read for all ages!

Dexter is a sweet and uplifting story that beautifully showcases perseverance, determination, and triumph in the face of adversity. This book holds a special place in our hearts, especially as our own dog recently broke her leg and spent eight weeks in a cone. Watching her grow stronger each day, surrounded by love and care, mirrored Dexter’s journey in such a meaningful way.

The book does a wonderful job illustrating the power of love and support, making it both relatable and inspiring for children and families alike. The illustrations are adorable, and the message is powerful—reminding us that even when life throws us challenges, we can come out stronger.

This story is a must-have for every child’s bookshelf. Heartwarming, encouraging, and full of charm—Dexter is a gentle reminder that resilience and love go hand in paw. 🐾💛

Author/illustrator Kelso tells the true story of her dog Dexter, who was injured after being hit by a car and went on to become an internet sensation after his courage touched and inspired millions. Sparse but heartfelt prose and simplistic vocabulary appeals to the youngest audience, Ideal for group storytelling with a focus on inclusion.
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I absolutely loved this book and can't wait to share with my students. Dexter's story is inspirational and sweet. So many great lessons in this story for everyone. The illustrations are also so good. Dexter is adorable and you can really see his emotions in the illustrations.

Very cute story. Seemed to be a bit all over the place . Also it was tricky to read some of the text as the text matched the backround it was on. The packing was wonderful for a children’s book and the illustrations were cute.

This is a great read. Dexter is adorable. I just wanted to hug him. I absolutely love his determination. He shows that no matter what happens, if you are really focused to achieve something, it can happen.

Dexter is so inspiring. I love that he did not let what happened to him get him down. He just adapted to his new lifestyle and moved on. To be honest, this is the first time I have heard about Dexter. Yet, after reading this book, I quickly searched Dexter.

Fans of Dexter or dog lovers like me will love this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gnome Road Publishing for providing this book, with my honest review below.

I was excited to find one of the Camp NetGalley books was about a dog that showed his resiliency after a leg injury. Not only is Dexter a great story to get young kids thinking about how they can work through a challenge or uniqueness in themselves that may set them apart (of which kids never seem to be kind to one another) and make it something that enhances their specialness, but this was close to my heart after my Snuggles had broken his leg as a puppy. The vet assured me that dogs learn to adapt to anything if he were to lose his leg (he didn’t and we have some memories of makeshift cast coverings, signing his cast; and much like Dexter the hopping around to walk), and I had some tears reading about Dexter doing just that.

While I wish all our little furry friends an easy life, I loved the message and illustrations with this story. A cute book that is meaningful and easy to digest for children.

3 stars

(thanks to netgalley for the arc )
( published september 26 2025)

so i mainly chose this as I wanted to get the camp netgalley badge (yayyyyy)but I was low-key surprised how much I liked it a quick 40 page childrens book with some great illustrations and I love the story of dexter
and I love the fact its based on a true story !!!
I love how the owner turned something bad into a great thing

3 stars

(thanks to netgalley for the arc )
( published september 26 2025)

so i mainly chose this as I wanted to get the camp netgalley badge (yayyyyy)but I was low-key surprised how much I liked it a quick 40 page childrens book with some great illustrations and I love the story of dexter
and I love the fact its based on a true story !!!
I love how the owner turned something bad into a great thing

This is so sweet!! A quick read that’s fun & cute!

I didn’t realize it’s based on a true story at first (grabbed it for NG camp week) and the dog being hit by a car made me so sad!!

Glad the real Dexter had a great recovery and is doing so well!

My niece loved reading about Dexter! The illustrations were amazingly done! It was easy for her to read and she very much enjoyed it!