Sundog Rescue

Sylvia Pantaleo is an assistant professor of education specializing in
children’s literature at Queen’s University and the co-author of
Learning with Literature in the Canadian Elementary Classroom.

“Sometimes Melissa saw things that nobody else did.”

Melissa has an overactive imagination; she sees sharks in a puddle,
big-eared mice in a hedge, ice-people on the lawn, and wriggling
spiderlegs in a cracked windshield. One cold winter afternoon while
walking Melissa home, Grandma falls and injures her foot. Melissa must
proceed alone and overcome her imaginary fears if she is to get help for
Grandma.

The first half of the book is disjointed as there are no transitions or
connections between Melissa’s imaginings. The second half tells the
story of Melissa’s conquering her fear of the shadow wolves; in this
part of the book Lohans creates suspense through the use of onomatopoeia
(e.g., Melissa’s boots hurried across the ice “Thud-thud,
swisshhh!”).

Krykorka introduces each page of text with black-and-white sketches of
Melissa’s fanciful visions. In her characteristic style, Krykorka’s
vibrant and detailed watercolor-and-colored pencil illustrations
skilfully depict the varying moods of the story. Unfortunately, the
story’s lack of flow will confuse many readers. Not recommended.