by Graham McNamee
Nothing Wrong with a Three Legged Dog was written by Graham McNamee. McNamee uses humor, kids and a funny looking dog to show that no matter what someone looks like, they can always fit in. In this story ten year old friends Keath and Lynda attend fourth grade in an old neighborhood school. Keath and Lynda learn about being different from a dog named Leftovers. Leftovers is a three-legged dog with a prosthetic ear who shows these kids that anything is possible.
Keath and Lynda are fourth graders who don't fit in at their school. Keath is the only white boy in his class and Lynda's mom is black and her dad is white. They both get picked on and teased by some of the other kids. Keath and Lynda become good friends because they both love dogs. Lynda's mom is a vetrenarian so after school, Keath and Lynda help by holding, petting, feeding, washing and walking the dogs.. Leftovers is a beagle who got hit by a car. His real owners didn't want him anymore after he lost one of his legs and an ear when he was hit by a car. Lynda thought Leftovers was a good name for a dog that only had leftover parts so she talked her mom into keeping him, Keath and Lynda both think he's the greatest, even though he's not perfect. When Lynda and Keath enter Leftovers in a Dog Show for disabled dogs they all become more confident about being different.
I learned a lot about dogs when I read this book. I learned that the smallest dog in the world is the Chihuahua and that a full grown Saint Bernard can weigh up to 150 pounds. I think a dog show for dogs with disabilities is a great idea and I would like to go to one some day. Sometimes it seemed like Leftovers was a person not an animal, when he would squeek and make noices or do things like he was answerng questions or trying to get attention from Lynda and Keath. I think dogs are really smart. too. The ending of the story was really good because Keath learned it was ok to be different.
The theme or message of this book is not to judge people by the color of their skin or by how they act. Keath and Lynda learned that just because they were different doesn't mean they are freaks. No matter how different someone is, you can still fit in. I would recommend Nothing Wrong with a Three-Legged Dog to anyone who likes dogs or who feels they don't fit in at school.
Reviewed by Byran 10/02