I wasn’t sure what to think of this book, and I don’t think the title will do it any favors - my three (nearly 4) year old skipped over it again and again because it’s hard to gauge the book by this title…

But this book was so cute. Our little protagonist gets a puppy who struggles with training. Brooklyn and Boss understand each other, and Brooklyn uses her own struggles in school - inattentive, fidgeting, anxious - to relate to how Boss must be feeling in puppy class. Together, they conquer Boss’s issues and he graduates.

We really enjoyed this book and its illustrations. Thank you to NetGalley and Boys Town Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Overall MoodVibe: adventurous, emotional, funny, informative, inspiring, lighthearted, reflective, and fast-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Star Rating: 5.0 / 5.0

I loved this book so much! It’s perfect for children and their parents or caregivers that struggle with executive functioning (ADHD, anxiety, trauma hx, etc). I also liked that the text was in OpenDyslexia font (but not sure if that’s final), as to make it easier for folks to read no matter their differences. The art was very cute and featured diverse characters and environments. But, my favorite, by far, was Boss the dog. I’m partial to big clumsy pitbull dogs, but it’s a great comparison and I love that they learn together! The rhyming was extra fun and may help children remember the key lessons in this book. It’s definitely going to be one I add to my therapy office library when it comes out!

Thank you to the author, illustrator, publisher, and NetGalley for providing this eARC!

Cute book. A little long for my 9-year-old’s attention. But cute. Interesting drawings of adults. My kiddo gives this book 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.

This was a cute and subtle way of describing how out of sorts it can sometimes feel as a kid to have a brain that works faster than they do. My daughter was with ADHD at only 7 so this book was a refreshing way to sit down with her and have her be able to relate to the way she sometimes feels. The parenting tips in the back were incredibly helpful and are something I think all parents could benefit from!

I really liked this book. The art was cute and, I think, effectively portrayed the narrator's feelings. I appreciated the tips in the back on how to slow down and train your brain.

What a great way to teach children about mental and emotional health and why it is so important to do so. This is something I would keep in a classroom for students.

This is a fun story with many layers. First, having had puppies in my life, I can testify that puppy Boss is very much a true puppy. Boss is full of fun, mischief, hyperactive one moment and zooming about, then plopping down and stubbornly refusing to be easily moved the next. He wants to please but is impulsive and easily distracted by, well, pretty much everything. Let's just say, self-discipline isn't a strength for most puppies....or children. That's where this book comes in.

The bond between Boss and first-time dog/puppy/owner Brooklyn is close. And, as Brooklyn slowly realizes, they also share many traits, not all of them good. Yet, her focus on Boss helps her recognize them and realize that many of the same tactics she's trying to ingrain in Boss will also benefit her. As Boss goes through training to earn his Canine Good Citizen award (yes, that really is a thing) the story alternates between Brooklyn's loving understanding and frustrations with her impulsive, stubborn, but adorable pup and her realization that she has a lot in common with her challenging pet. It's handled well and the illustrations add to the layers as we follow the fun rhymes. Metaphors, anyone?

Bottom line, this deceptively simple story of a girl and her rowdy puppy works on all levels. It's a fun story that can be read as just that, a fun story. It might also help open a child's eyes to how their own actions can be "trained" through focus, perseverance, and how to control both emotions and behaviors that, like Boss's wild child puppy behavior, isn't desirable. Again, the tips at the end are wonderful, direct and easy to understand. Thanks #BoysTownPress - #IBPA for the early peek at this layered look at taming not just a rambunctious puppy but helping children learn to navigate their world, too.

Adorable story about a girl and her new puppy. Her puppy is learning in school, but it's hard at first. The girl relates her busy brain to everything her puppy is feeling and thinking. It's an easy to relate to story of feelings and how they can be handled in a healthy way. The illustrations are also adorable!

Thank you to NetGalley and Boys Town Press for the advance copy!

This was such a lovely story. As a Mom to a preschooler who struggles to regulate at times, I’m looking forward to reading this with her and seeing if we can use some of the techniques to help her with her big feelings!
I loved all the dogs and Brooklyn is especially drawn with such a lovely character!

A cute book about a girl with a dog.
Book works to teach about how your brain needs the same care a puppy would. Was an easy enough read for a 2nd grader. They only needed help with a few words that i think were more because of the font.

Good educational book if your kid can make the connections. The 2nd grader didn’t get the to your brain parallels but the 4th grader did.

Definitely recommend for kids!

Maybe it's because I have my own furry friend (and ADHD), but this adorable story really got me in the feels!

This is such a fun, well-paced story that would be a great hit during any reading circles. The illustrations are gorgeous and full of energy and emotion, and each page has a measured cadence to get the messages across.

I love to see more books for children that encourage self compassion, bravery, resilience, and teamwork! There are many relatable and important themes to celebrate with Boss and Brooklyn!

This was a delightful 5-star read.

This book is so cute and such a great way for many students to relate to the sensitive topics such as not being able to sit still. The comparison to a puppy is perfect and not at all shameful! Great work!

Thank you for the ARC read! This was such a cute book helping to describe a busy brain working. The art was cute, the rhyming was adorable, and the message was perfect!

Great book for my class. The book is injected with humor while teaching children about empathy too. The characters are relatable and the illustrations are bold.

Thank you for the chance to read it.

This books should be in every elementary classroom. This is a sweet tale of the typical kid who doesn't want to sit still. For any kid with ADHD or hyperactivity, this book shows that these aren't bad kids, but rather kids who need extra help when stuck in a classroom. Many adults have a hard time sitting still as well! By showing children that their brain is like a puppy, it helps the child feel that they are not abnormal or bad. I love that at the end of the book there are additional recommendations for parents and teachers. Such an adorable book with great art!

This is an awesome book! I really liked how the author showed such a strong bond between the main character and their dog, but also used that bond to help readers learn about managing when they feel energetic, excited, or distracted. Just like the main character and the dog understand each other, readers will feel deeply understood and seen when they read this book. One thing that helps this is the tips at the back of the book. These tips are written so well and are clear, which makes this book so effective in equipping parents/educators with tools they can use to help the kids in their lives. Lastly, the way this book was organized visually was perfect! The illustrations had a lot of variety, and the writing coexisted perfectly with the visuals. I also enjoyed seeing the short little rhymes every so often in the book that had pointers for kids to help them take control over their active brains. Bravo!!

What an adorable little book. This makes some really cute connections to how a young kid can be much like a young puppy - struggling to sit and do what’s told when there’s a big beautiful world out there to play in. I think it’ll be a good read for kids who struggle to sit and focus in class (and love puppies, of course.). The PUPPY acronym at the end is a nice touch and adds some substance for the parents reading these books as well.

Oh this was so sweet. A really great way to talk about a subject without directly talking about a subject. Talking about a dog who is a struggle to train & keep relaxed, while also pointing out the sweet girls struggles to stay focused on tasks & working hard so both of them learn to refocus on what they need to do. The illustrations are super sweet, it's a great font for kids that need a little extra help focusing on words, & the story was just so sweet.

This children's book compares our (children's) brains and how to learn to getting a puppy and having to tran with it. The pictures take us through different situations, how hard it is for the puppy and then shows parallels to how a smilier situation would be tough for a kid. But both the puppy and the kid learn - just in time to get ready for the contest.

This book is so sweet. It helps illustrate learning in a kid friendly way. My kids would immediately take to being compared to a dog - in my mind there is no comparison that would appeal more to them. Plus the pictures are so cute!

The book ends with a page that explains a few helpful strategies to the parents/caretakers. It is a great way of helping me put some of the things into practice!

While there is something to say about being connected to your pet and not feeling alone in your struggle, this comparison didn’t quite land for me. I’m not totally convinced that telling a tough to focus kid that they’re like a dog is the best course of action. The tips for parents and educators in the back is all fine and well, I just don’t know that making such a close connection between these two things for a growing brain is the greatest. Would skip this one personally, and find these lessons in a different context. An adult finding peace in this connection is a different story altogether. Weird developmental message although it might be technically comparable or true.