“Dog Diaries: Sparky,” by Kate Klimo, illustrated by Tim Jessell
Random House, New York, 149 pages, Grades 3-5.
Animal stories have been popular for decades. E.B. White’s marvelous story “Charlotte’s Web” centers on the relationship between the spider, Charlotte, and the pig, Wilbur. Talented writers like White give human characteristics to the animal characters in their books which allows children to quickly identify with the animals and sense the issues within the plot.
This animal story, “Dog Diaries: Sparky,” is a book in a series of formula novels with dogs as the main characters. Being written in a formula style allows children to quickly understand the messages of the book. Kate Klimo writes this inviting novel in an action-packed manner that will keep readers turning the pages. What will happen next? Readers will eagerly want to know.
Sparky is a dalmatian puppy living in a firehouse in Chicago. Her mother runs alongside the fire engines and keeps other dogs from attacking the horses. This is critically important because the horses pull the fire equipment to the blaze and will spook if detracted. This can result in catastrophe as the firefighters may not get to the destination in time to put out the blaze. Sparky learns quickly and soon runs next to the horses pulling the fire engines. She zealously protects the horses and talks to them when they need to be calmed.
But in the summer of 1871, a drought had made the city of Chicago cinder dry. Most of the buildings and homes were built with wood, making them susceptible to fire. As the leaves on trees begin to droop from the dryness, the entire city is vulnerable to a conflagration. On October 8, 1871, a fire begins in Mrs. O’Leary’s barn in Chicago. The fire alarms sound. Sparky rushes out with the fire team to the scene of the fire.
She notices that the wind is picking up and the flames are starting to blow burning cinders across neighboring rooftops. Soon the city is a burning inferno. Sparky tells the teams of horses to be calm, but she is soon called to other fire scenes. Then throughout the night, she runs from burning buildings and through crashing timbers. Will the fire teams put out the blaze? What must Sparky do?
How can one firehouse dog help stop a towering inferno? Does she save the horses from being burned by the blaze? Who is the young girl that she shelters during the fire? How many people flee the raging fire storm? Why is Sparky a true hero? To find out the answers to these and other questions, go to the library and check out this very interesting book, the “Dog Diaries: Sparky” by Kate Klimo.
Intermediate grade students will just love this book and the entire Dog Diaries series. This novel is filled with action-packed scenes and keeps you wanting to find out what happens next. Sparky is an inspiring character and children will identify with her.
As normal in a formula fiction series, Klimo is not trying to create “great” literature. What she is trying to do and successfully achieves is writing a story that will interest and inspire young readers. So, if you want to have a fun read, this is the book and series for you. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
