Abbey the Cavi in Miami Beach!

This book has further enhanced my 4-1/2 year old daughter's love for reading as she sits and listens to it over, and over, and over again! She has actually memorized many of the poetic lines and recites them as she moves through the day with our Cavi (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel). Lovely rhymes, story and catching illustrations. We hope to see more!

Lisa Balaam's Abbey The Cavi In Miami Beach is an upbeat children's picturebook about a young King Charles Spaniel who experiences adventure on the beach, making friends with Carlos the Crab and Danny the Dolphin as she searches for a special gift for Mr. B. When a storm suddenly approaches, Abbey must think fast and make her way back to her beloved family before the wind and rain carry her off! The vivid and colorful illustrations are sure to appeal to young readers, and especially young dog lovers, in this wondrous tale of discoveries through a puppy's eyes.

My kids, aged 8, 5 and 3, all loved this book! They were entertained, and I myself enjoyed the positive lessons they were picking up. Most notably, I loved how creatures of different backgrounds, a dog, a crab, a bird, a dolphin, etc., could work together and not let differences come between them.

Precious, adorable, captivating, beautiful - these are the first words that come to mind when I consider this little adventure of Abbey the Cavi in Miami Beach. Just look at the book cover - how can you not instantly fall in love with this precocious little dog? Abbey, by the way, is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, a breed historically favored by the British royal family since the time of Charles I (hence the name). And what little child doesn't love a dog of any kind? I really can't imagine any young child not loving this book. What you have here is a wonderful little story about a day in the life of this puppy and the unconditional love she shows toward everyone, especially her family. It's really about seeing the goodness in everyone. Some might call Percy the Pelican ugly and dumb, dismiss Sandy the Seagull as a screeching scavenger, or shy away from the dangerous-looking claws of Carlos the Crab, but Abbey counts these among her best friends - and they go out of their way to help and protect her. Abbey does tend to shy away from Jaws, Claws, and Paws, as these three cats act tough and like to tease her, but Abbey knows they are the way they are because they weren't fortunate enough to be born into a loving family like her own. Her humans, Mr. and Mrs. B, love her and take care of her, and she appreciates and returns that love with all of her heart. Abbey is, in other words, the very model of the kind of intrinsically good person all parents should help their children become. I had trouble thinking like a young child even when I was a young child, but I have no doubt that youngsters will love the charming, rhyming verses of author Lisa Balaam. A lot of love obviously went into this book. Abbey isn't just a canine character; she's Balaam's very own Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy. Throw in the truly exquisite artwork by illustrator Joe Palmisano, and you've got a book that will very likely be hauled around with you wherever you and your child go and will certainly become a perennial bedtime favorite. I think this is a gorgeous little book, and I absolutely love it.

The illustrations in this book are extremely colorful, sure to catch and keep the attention of young children. Abbey is a darling little dog with a white fluffy tail and a collar made of shells. Every morning he has breakfast with Mr. and Mrs. B and departs on his daily adventure. Abbey has many friends that he meets and greets, from Percy the pelican to Danny the dolphin. They all will not hesitate to help each other if the need arises. On this day, Abbey's adventure takes him past the alley cats, to the French Café here he picks up some French bread in a sack. Abbey then walks on the beach and tries to capture a balloon. Even though his friends help, the balloon is punctured. To make him feel better, Carlos the crab gives Abbey a beautiful purple shell. Just then a violent storm kicks up and Abbey must run home through the rain and wind. He gets home and Mr. and Mrs. B wrap him up in a towel and dry him off. The story closes with Abbey being safe and secure and drifting off to sleep. The text of this book is large, making it easy for young eyes to read. The story involves friendship, helping others, a hint of danger and finally the security of a loving home. It is an excellent story for young children and I strongly recommend it.