Bixby and the Very Bad Idea - (Bixby and His Adventures) by Jerri Lien (Paperback)

“I just wanted someone to play with me, but I made everyone sad,” Bixby explains in Jerri Lien’s children’s book, Bixby and the Very Bad Idea. ~ What ~ This thirty-six-page oversized paperback targets children ages three to eight years old who enjoy stories about caring for others. With no scary scenes, it is a tale of a dog who wants attention and reacts wrongly but learns a valuable lesson later. The engaging, colorful illustrations cover the full pages with fonts that are highlighted and easy to read. This story involves a dog who wants to play with a little boy, but the child is too busy. Instead, the canine repeatedly takes things and hides them, hoping to get somebody to play with him. While he engages with the boy, a cat, and another dog but gets no responses, a ladybug tells him repeatedly that his actions are not wise. It is only when the tables are turned does Bixby understand friendships and feelings. ~ Why ~ I love children’s books that convey a message, and this one does about how wrong actions can hurt others. I appreciate that the dog got queasy whenever he realized he was doing something wrong, showing how emotions can affect our health. When the pup had the same thing happen to him, he not only understood what he did was wrong, but he also learned how his friends came to his aid and helped him. ~ Why Not ~ Those who do not like stories about redemption by doing something bad may not care for this one. Others may think the dog was conniving and selfish, demanding the attention of others, yet there is a moral to the tale. Some of the three and four syllable words may be hard for beginner readers. ~ Wish ~ Since it uses a Christian publisher, it would be thoughtful for the book to include something about God or reference a Bible verse applicable to the story. ~ Want ~ If you are looking for a children’s book that helps young readers learn how to care and think about others, this one is a good idea and not a bad one. Thanks to the author for this complimentary book that I am under no obligation to review.