Looking Out for Sarah

This book tells the true story about the life a guide dog named Perry and the blind woman named Sarah that he works for. The book explains how the dog helps Sarah get around in the morning, how he helps her cross the street to get to the grocery store, and how he gets to go where other dogs aren't allowed. It describes how Sarah is able to keep up with her busy schedule of activities like playing music for local schoolchildren thanks to Perry's tireless work. The book also describes an adventure that Sarah and Perry had together when they walked from Boston to New York City. The book is not at all scary. It's a great description of working dogs and the kinds of help they can provide for disabled people, as well as the kinds of activities that disabled people engage in every day. The book has about 650 words.

Glenna Lang's Looking Out for Sarah, based on a true story about Sarah Gregory Smith and her guide dog, Perry, talks about how animals can help people with disabilities do extraordinary things. In the story, the narrator tells of ways that the black lab helps his blind master complete everyday tasks like go to the market, play in the park, take a train ride, and go to the post office. Sarah and Perry also take a special adventure, hiking from Boston to New York City to show the nation the wonderful capabilities that "helper dogs for disabled people" have. Lang narrates the story beautifully, as Perry would tell it. The illustrations she uses place an even greater focus on Perry. While all of the pages are warm and colorful and all of the other characters such as Sarah and the school children wear bright clothes, Perry stands out from page to page. It is as if Lang wants the reader to be in Perry's shoes, or paws, for a day and see all of the wonderful things he does for Sarah. Overall, Looking Out for Sarah is a delightful children's book, full of big, brightly illustrated pages that can teach children of all ages the advantages of our canine companions.

Fun to read and you'll learn from it, too! Told from the dog's perspective, you'll move through a typical day in Sarah's life as her faithful Lab Perry looks out for her with charm, affection, and a sense of duty. The dog's eye view of the world lends gentle humor, like when Perry faces nearly ubiquitous temptation from crumbs and "street snacks." The author lends her own humor, too, in lines like, "although Perry was not much of a publicity hound." The illustrations are simple yet unique. While the book alludes to Sarah and Perry's 300-mile trip from Boston to NYC, I'm hoping for a sequel that will go into detail!

What a thoughtful, lovely book this is. It is told from the point of view of a dog guide, Perry, who "looks out" for his owner Sarah, who is blind. The story is about things that Perry and Sarah do together, and it leaves the very real impression that Sarah is just like everyone else, except that she happens to be blind. They visit schools, where Sarah entertains the children by playing her guitar and singing, then allows them to pat Perry (that's his favorite part of school). Sarah tells the story of when she and Perry once walked from Boston to New York "to show the world what a guide dog can do for a blind person." Sarah and Perry go to a park for his daily play session, where he "never grew tired of bringing the ball back to Sarah. Each throw was as exciting as the last." Throughout the book, you are aware of the strong, loving bond between them. Glenna Lang's delightful illustrations are simple, uncomplicated and lovely to look at. I plan to give this book to many friends, as I treasure my own copy and look forward to introducing others to its charm.