The Tale of Rescue by Michael J. Rosen

The Tale of Rescue Reviews

• 
  Connie D

  This is a poetic heroic tale. Lovely language and watercolor pictures.
• 
  Margaret

  Sixteen years ago, nearly to the day, my husband and his youngest brother died in an automobile accident. Month after month I barely existed. On August 21, 2000 a small chocolate Labrador female puppy was born; the runt of the litter. For us it was love at first sight. I named her Xena after the television warrior princess realizing strength was essential for her survival. She was so small it required feeding her three times a day. I was allowed to have her at school in a crate in my office. (I let her out quite a bit thanks to my principal, Dick Swenor.) During story times she would sit on my lap as I read to the students. She saved me; filling my life with joy.
  
  Different breeds of dogs are known for particular traits. One thing they have in common is their ability to know when they are needed. A dog guy to the core and author Michael J. Rosen (The Hound Dog's Haiku and Other Poems for Dog Lovers) has penned a remarkable story about a cattle dog who accomplished a feat out of the ordinary. The Tale of Rescue (Candlewick, October 13, 2015) is a tribute to this dog, to all dogs, who do as they have always done. They save us one heart at a time.
  
  My full recommendation:
  http://librariansquest.blogspot.com/2...
• 
  Jennifer

  “A Tale of Rescue” is a heartwarming tale of courage and duty that will particularly appeal to animal lovers.
  The story centers around a family from Florida who become lost outside during a sudden blizzard while they are vacationing in Ohio. Their rescue comes in the form of a cattle dog, who leads them to safety by unusual means.
  
  Candlewick Press has a reputation for extraordinarily high quality children’s literature, and this book is no exception. The writing has a melody to it, which based on the story’s content just makes one want to snuggle under a cozy blanket and savor each word. The artwork is extraordinary and will enchant children and adults alike.
  
  4 Stars.
  
  Thank you to NetGalley and Candlewick Press for a galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.
  
  
• 
  Debbie Tanner

  This is a story about a cattle dog and family on vacation, which sounds like a really weird combination but it is a terrific story. The story opens telling about the dog. The dog loves to herd cattle and author goes into some lovely specific details about how the dog works and what makes it happy. Then it tells about a family that is on vacation from Florida in Ohio and how much they are enjoying the snow. Until they get lost in a white out. The dog comes to help, even though his owner thinks the dog has gone insane. What's really great about this book is the immediacy of it. The story moves at breakneck speed (much like the energy level of the dog) and it's really hard to put down. The watercolor illustrations are lovely and make a good match to the text. I really liked this one.
• 
  Sharon

  This is a story of a family's survival and a dog's dedication to duty. With the story unfolding via the physical and mental experiences of the characters, there are ample descriptions of sights, sounds, motions, and emotions, and the reader will experience the danger of the blizzard along with the characters. The dog is definitely the "Alpha" character! Writing which relies on sensorial description conjures up the notion of a "slow" plot, but that is not the case in Rosen's The Tale of Rescue.
• 
  Jeanne

  I won this book as a Goodreads Firstread. What a gem.
  
  The story is about a cattle dog, a family lost in a snowstorm, and the unique manner the dog uses to help them.
  The description of the training and work the dog goes through every day is astounding. I enjoyed the original rescue efforts. It was not a typical " Lassie" moment.
  The detail to the scenery and storm makes it easy to picture the events in one's mind.
  
  This book would be excellent to read with children or grandchildren ages approximately 6-11 years.
• 
  Laurie B

  Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars
  This is a beautifully written book with soft watercolor illustrations to match. Parts of it really touched my heart as a dog-lover. Much of the described canine behavior was immediately recognizable to me from my own experiences.
  
  I had an opportunity to meet the author at a local book festival a few years ago and thought he was a kind, genuine person - someone who shares my love of animals, nature, and words. I have also enjoyed Mr. Rosen's
  The Cuckoo's Haiku: and Other Birding Poems and look forward to reading more of his work.
• 
  Dianna Winget

  I read this little book in about an hour and would recommend it for dog lovers of any age. It’s a moving story of a cattle dog who saves a family stranded in a blizzard. Fiction, but totally believable. Great tale!
• 
  American Mensa

  The Tale of Rescue, a story by Michael Rosen, shows how kindness is the solution to any crisis, and how heroes emerge from the most unlikely of places. A family of three go on a vacation, trading sunny Florida for snow covered Ohio. Everything is fine, until they get lost in the midst of an endless whiteout. Numb with cold, the prospect of making it through the night seems grim. They cry for help without success. But somewhere not so far away, a cattle dog is listening. Knowing someone is in great anguish, she sets out on the bravest journey of her life. Will she rescue these people or die trying? Read the book to find out.
  
  My favorite parts of the book were the beautiful illustrations. Often, as a chapter book reader, I forget how meaningful a picture can be in giving a story a scene and uncovering another layer about the characters. This book did just that, using pictures to take the story to another level. I saw the dog’s matted brown-black fur, her ears perked up and listening. I noticed the family’s thick round parkas and how they huddled around each other for warmth. These small things, whether pictures or words, are the difference between a book that grabs you and doesn’t let go, and a book that gets thrown back to the shelf very quickly.
  
  I would give this book five stars because of the imagery it had and the way it roped two stories into one. The stories of the cattle dog and the lost family were good alone, but together they were powerful and memorable. This was especially conveyed in the epilogue, where it reunited the two stories again, years after it all happened.
  
  I recommend this book to ages ten and up, and to all genders. Even though it is relatively short, the book is powerful, so older kids would enjoy it more. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and I know that everyone else will too.
  Review by Anya A, age 11, Metropolitan Washington Mensa
• 
  Annette

  THE TALE OF RESCUE by Michael J. Rosen tells the fictional adventure of a dog that comes to the aid of a family during a blizzard.
  
  When a young boy and his parents are lost in a snow storm, a cattle dog comes to their rescue. Unable to convince his master of the emergency, the cattle dog manages to create an ingenious way to save the frightened family.
  
  Rosen’s rich storytelling skills make the tale come to life. Middle grade readers will feel like they’re reading a true story. What makes the novel particularly compelling is the use of the epilogue to extend the experience.
  
  The beautiful watercolor illustrations add to the appeal of the story.
  
  Authentic, well-written animal stories are always in demand, so librarians will find a large audience among animal lovers. The short length combined with the engaging epilogue will be popular among reluctant readers.
  
  To learn more about the author, go to
  http://www.fidosopher.com.
  
  Published by Candlewick Press on October 13, 2015. ARC courtesy of publisher.
  
• 
  Bethe

  Beautiful watercolors accompany this quickly moving story of a family of Floridians caught in a blizzard in Ohio and one determined cattle dog. What I enjoyed was the unusual presentation of the characters which remain unnamed until the very last section of the book. Also unusual was the building of tension with lots of figurative language. Liked the look at a working farm dog, not a pet dog.
• 
  Michael Gatterdam

  After a conference here in Columbus, I was given a copy of this book. A solid quick little read, it reminded my slightly of the blizzard scene from "Where The Red Fern Grows". Definitely a good read for dog lovers.
• 
  Edward Sullivan

  A cattle dog rescues a family trapped in a blizzard. A suspenseful and moving story about a courageous canine with handsome illustrations by Stan Fellows.
• 
  Beverly

  Beautifully written, with lovely watercolor illustrations.
• 
  Cristy

  This is the story about a cattle dog. The owner named her, but never really called her by her name, just cast, bye, and that'll do. A mother, father, and their son embark on an adventure to Ohio to experience snow firsthand. They are coming from Florida. They do not realize that there is a blizzard coming and their paths will cross with the cattle dog and so begins an adventure of their lives. I would recommend this for any collection looking for cause and effect stories for young readers. The author does a great job of keeping the reader on the edge of their seat throughout the story.
• 
  Wendy

  Read it with my 11 year old son and he loved it. Gave it a 10 out of 5. Short, exciting story about a courageous and smart farm dog who rescues a family caught outside in a blizzard.
• 
  Viola Sung

  "Endings and answers are just patient beginnings."
  
  Short and enlightening, with nice illustrations!
• 
  Jodi

  Read this with my 12 year-old and loved the lessons we learned from this heartwarming adventure. A quick read, full of beautiful imagery, and deep truths.
• 
  Emily

  A beautiful dog story of heroism.
• 
  Cindy

  Loved this endearing tale of a dog saving a family and the son who looks his name years later. Well narrated by Nicolas Mondetti
• 
  Sarah

  A quick read for any dog lover! It’s beautifully written and illustrated.
• 
  Joanna Jennings

  Too poetic and difficult to follow as a read aloud
• 
  Susan Dunn

  A Florida family comes to Ohio to stay at a rented cabin in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains for a week. Their son has never seen snow before, so they're excited to share this experience with him. The three spend a week cross-country skiing, building snow people, and having snowball fights. On their last morning they wake to new snow, and decide to hike the half mile to the lodge for breakfast. They don't know about winter weather - or whiteouts, and when they suddenly can barely see in front of them, and the lodge doesn't appear, they turn back to the cabin. But they can't find that either, and all of a sudden they are lost, with the storm getting worse...
  
  At the same time a local cattle dog hear's the father's whistle for help in the distance. She makes her way through the snow to the stranded family, but can't get the farmer to understand the seriousness of what's going on. How can she rescue the stranded family on her own? Beautiful language, a spirited canine hero and gorgeous color illustrations will make this one a hit with reluctant and proficient readers.
• 
  Martha

  A family travels to an Appalachian Ohio rural area for their vacation. Enthralled by the snowy weather they take a hike. Not far from their cabin a snow blizzard occurs. Before long it turns into a white out and they lose their way. As the snow piles up, their chances for survival narrow. The snow is so high the 10-year-old boy can't see beyond the snow. Unable to move, the father whistles from time to time. Finally a cattle dog hears him, and follows the faint sound. This suspenseful tale is beautifully told by Michael Rosen, with gorgeous illustrations mirroring the survival tale perfectly. This is a perfect read aloud or survival story for a sophisticated reader. Because names are not attached to the tale, there is a distance to the characters, yet the pacing is so well done and the story so powerful, the choices of the cattle dog takes your breath away. A masterpiece!