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The magic of Perla and Isabel Allende

Cover of Perla: The Mighty Dog
A review of Perla: The Mighty Dog written by Isabel Allende
Sandy Rodriguez

Perla's two superpowers are making people love her and roaring like a lion. She is a little, scruffy dog, but her powers are mighty. She makes the Rico family fall in love with her at the shelter even though they were hoping to find a guard dog. Then she learns to roar like a lion to demonstrate what an excellent guardian she will make. 

Perla's life is full of family moments, sharing space with Lucy, the cat, barking at mice, sleeping with the little boy, Nico, keeping track of Liz, the teenager in the house, and playing with her red ball. Her adorable yet "fierce" nature comes in handy while counseling Nico Rico who is going through some troubled times. Nico is being bullied at school and Perla offers advice on roaring and chasing and not backing down based on her own experiences at the dog park. The results are heartwarming and successful.

This is Isabel Allende's children's literary debut and the story with illustrations by Sandy Rodriguez sparkle on the page. Tiny magical secrets are hidden throughout the book which make reading the picture book together a cozy adventure to uncover as well. A true gem.  

También disponible en la biblioteca en español (also available from the library in Spanish): Perla, La Súper Perrita.

Jul 19, 2024