Customer Reviews

4 reviews

• Chez

  This is a lovely sad/happy story that families will be able to relate to. The illustrations are very accomplished and engaging and work perfectly with the text.

• Svetlana

  Very kind and touching book. Makes kids think and feel.

• Anne

  This brightly illustrated short story is both sad and joyful. It tells the story of a lively dog with "slightly crossed brown eyes" who made an impact on everyone who knew him. Kai - his name means sea in Japanese - is mischievous and affectionate and, like many pets, gets into occasional scrapes.
  
  Kai is full of charm and personality. There are lots of examples of the things that he likes doing and also of his dislikes, including rain and loud noises. The reader has the sense of a very lovable dog. So when Kai dies his bereaved family feel empty and a real sense of loss. His brief illness and death happen immediately before lockdown, and the timing means that they seem to feel his absence even more strongly. They feel time passing slowly without his cheerfulness. The book ends with slightly bittersweet thoughts but with the comfort of happy memories.
  
  "The Dog Who Arrived In A Box" is written in a style that can be read aloud. There are many places where a teacher or other adult can pause and ask questions about relationships between humans and animals. The story is full of detail, including his owners' move from one country to another, and will strike a chord with anyone whose loved pet has died. Teachers and adults could also use this book as a gentle stimulus to talk with children about other losses in their lives, or indeed about their experiences of the way time passed in lockdown.

• Barry Gilhooly

  This is a delightful true story about a beagle named Kai, from his arrival in a box until his passing following illness. Along the way we hear about his many adventures including his move to England from France, and the humans he gets to know in the street where his new home is located.
  
  The book is aimed at children under five and provides many useful opportunities for the reader to explore themes such as moving house, friendship, love, and loss. The various stages of Kai’s life, particularly the effect he had on those who came into contact with him, provide valuable talking points for the reader to explore with children.
  
  We get to know Kai well in this moving, thought-provoking story. Kai’s personality shines through strongly, which will endear him to children, as it did with the adults he encountered. It was a pleasure to read and will be thoroughly enjoyed by children and the adults who read it to them.
  

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