Sunshine the Fearless Dog
“My family also calls me Little Miss because I’m a very small dog, only 5 pounds fully grown. But don’t let my size fool you, I’m the fiercest puppy my town has ever known!”
Sunshine the dog brightens every room with her sunny personality, and she doesn’t take disrespect from anyone. She knows her worth — now if only her human sister could feel the same way about herself. Lorraine Kaplan Arbetter ‘s empathetic book Sunshine the Fearless Dog encourages young readers to follow in Sunshine’s footsteps (pawprints?) and see the intrinsic value within themselves.
A DOG DETERMINED TO SHARE HER SUNNY PERSONALITY
Sunshine makes sure that she gets the respect she deserves, despite her pint-sized presence. Even “the doormen in [her] building don’t call [her] Sunshine or Little Miss — they call [her] The Boss, as they should.” A firecracker in a five-pound body, she struts her stuff and shares her love with everyone around her. But while she’s a friend to everyone she meets, her most treasured companion is her human sister. The problem is, as much as Sunshine loves her sister, she has a hard time expressing it. She is a dog, after all!
It doesn’t help that her sister has been having a hard time at school. From bullies hurling cruel words to pushing her around, Sunshine’s sister just can’t seem to catch a break. Sunshine hates seeing her so upset and is determined to show her just how special she truly is. While it’s hard for a dog to find the words to describe her love, Sunshine hopes that by leading by example, she’ll show her sister how to believe in herself and see her own worth. Eventually, her sister is able to find friends who appreciate her for the person she was able to become with Sunshine’s help.
A UNIVERSAL LESSON OF LOVE
Even though she is a dog, Sunshine shares wisdom that every human, young or old, can use in their daily life. Her advice to her sister rings true for anyone who’s dealt with negativity or judgment from others: “Don’t ever give anyone the power to take away your worth and how very special you are.” It’s a vital sentiment for children to hear in particular — from bullying to low self-esteem, early childhood is just as challenging as it is formative.
By introducing these lessons on building self-confidence to young readers, Arbetter gives these readers a stepping stone to help them find the bravery to be themselves. Wrapped up in the appealing image of Sunshine the dog, thanks to illustrator Tanya Alyce, readers are compelled to follow this adorable dog’s guidance and absorb the lesson she teaches. The illustrations and text work in tandem, capturing the raw emotions of Sunshine’s sister, as well as the optimism and appreciation she feels upon gaining a new sense of self.
Together, all the aspects of Sunshine the Fearless Dog combine to create an empathetic and hopeful story of bravery and the power of self-worth. Readers of every age will come away with a renewed sense of their intrinsic value, and the importance of staying true to themselves. It seems that we all have a lot to learn from Sunshine.
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