Hi there, and welcome to Colleen’s Cozy Book Corner! I’m Colleen, and I’ve been working here at Pioneer Valley Books for six years. In that time, I’ve fallen in love with our fiction, nonfiction, and decodable readers. Each title is so captivating in its storytelling and illustrations that I want to share some PVB book love with you in the form of mini book reports. Whoever you are—teacher, principal, administrator, parent, grandparent, or ordinary bookworm—welcome to my virtual Book Corner! Get yourself comfy and read on. It’s time to delve into our first report!
I’ve chosen to begin with Reginald the Stinky Dog, written by Katherine Rawson and illustrated by Max Stasiuk. I just have to start with Reginald. He is one of my favorite Pioneer Valley Books characters. I am perpetually delighted by his ability to find trouble, and in this first installment of the Reginald book series, readers get a full dose of his antics.
Chapter 1 explains that Reginald is a loved and loving pet, with all the usual charms a dog brings to any family. But by Chapter 2, our main character is well on his way to earning his namesake: stinky. P.U. ! His subsequent decisions and their repercussions through the rest of this book’s six chapters are classic comedy as his unbearable stink repels dozens, and his oblivious nature guarantees his own blissful unawareness of any wrongdoing.
Hats off to Max Stasiuk and his funny renderings of people recoiling from Reginald’s stinkiness! Can a dog really smell THAT bad? As a dog owner myself, I assure you, it is totally possible. And maybe I like Reginald so much because I see my own beloved pet in him. But you don’t need to own a dog to appreciate Reginald and his gleeful capers. Reading about him is like meeting a new frolicsome friend—and the joyful adventure that comes with it.
