A cute book about a dog back and a merpup as they try to save the reputation of one of their friends.

I really liked the illustrations here! The formatting of my copy made the story harder to follow, but it was still cute.

Sea Dog Rescue by Astrid Sheckels is a charming and courageous tale that weaves together friendship, mystery, and justice in a seaside village setting. Walter the baker-sea dog and his loyal companion Mira the merpup combine wits and heart to uncover the truth behind Big Boris’s alleged misdeed, sending a powerful message about standing up for what is right. With enchanting illustrations and a spirited plot, this story delights readers ages 4-8, inviting them to believe in loyalty, bravery, and telling the truth.

Wow, this looked wonderful. But wow, it read quite awfully. It really is the most clumsily-delivered saga of injustice and mer-dogs you could expect to find – as if you actually would expect to find any. Basically everyone's got it in for a big fish when a boat gets struck, but it wasn't the big fish and it was an accident anyway, and then a cake has to be made. Apparently this is part of a larger franchise, and if you know something about these characters I can see this making a bit more sense, but it really is as if some whole pages got lost in the post, and what was included was left to the roll of a dice. What was included, to repeat myself, looks gorgeous, and in no real way deserves being associated with a two-star book, but that's what the script is worth, at best.

Sea dog rescue is a beautifully illustrated children’s picture book featuring stunning watercolour illustrations. The plot of this book had a strong premise, but, unfortunately the ending fell a little flat and ultimately felt unfinished.

BOOK REVIEW
📖 Sea Dog Rescue by Astrid Scheckels

🌊"The villagers are hunting me," groaned Boris. "They think I sunk their boat. I'm sure Walter could help me, but how will I get word to him without getting caught? How will I ever clear my name?"

Big Boris finds himself WANTED after an old sailor suspects a sea monster capsized a small fishing boat. Villagers cast nets and hooks, seeking revenge. Walter (the baking land dog) and Mira, the merpup work together to solve the mystery.

💕 What I Loved:
The illustrations are charming with exquisite details and fantastic characters including a turtle sea king, merpups, and a sea dragon

✏️ A bit of a critique
The ending is abrupt making it better suited for younger children (3-6). However, all ages will enjoy the illustrations! My temporary ebook was stamped with "For Review Only" over all the illustrations, so my kids didn't really enjoy it as much.

My recommendation
💫 if you see this title at your local library, add it to your haul! ☺️


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I received this title as a temporary Ebook through @netgalley. The above are my thoughts and opinions.

With great Joy and Love,
Katie
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Sea dogs and merpups are irresistible! Beautiful, detailed art takes us on the investigation of who tried to sink a village fishing boat. It’s not Big Boris. Walter and Mira take on the task while keeping the secret of the merpups, too. Really loved this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Globe Pequot for this DRC.
#SeaDogRescue #NetGalley

I read this with my 7 year old son tonight and he really enjoyed it, he said he would definitely read it again. From mom… I didn’t love it just because I’m not quite sure I understood it there was supposed to be a greater message behind it and the book ends totally abruptly. It was strange. The illustrations were pretty though!

When Walter the baker’s friend Big Boris is wrongly accused of sinking a fishing boat, he teams up with Mira the merpup to uncover the real culprit. Their underwater adventure weaves a heartwarming tale of friendship, justice, and courage.

This book’s illustrations are nothing short of breathtaking. The jewel-green tones of the ocean shimmer on every page, creating an inviting underwater world that children will want to dive into again and again. Astrid Sheckels’ art blends classic realism with a whimsical touch, bringing to life an enchanting cast of characters from mermaid-dogs and gentle sea creatures to a loyal group of friends who always have each other’s backs. The visual storytelling is so vivid that even before the words are read aloud, the pictures themselves tell a tale of kindness, bravery, and the magic of friendship. This is a story young readers will cherish for its warmth and heart, but it’s worth owning for the illustrations alone. Highly recommended for anyone who loves picture books that are as beautiful to look at as they are meaningful to read.

This is definitely perfect for a child.
Just short enough to keep their attention focused on it. I liked it. The art style is beyond adorable.