Nico & Lola, a Dog Book for Children

Grandparents will appreciate the message of this dog book for children, about the importance of kindness. Children will be entranced by the beautiful full-color photographs of an adorable black pug puppy and a little boy who is equally cute. The author and the photographer are both animal lovers, and the book is not only a good teaching tool but also a reflection of their affection for both children and dogs.

Books that entertain children are easy to come by. Books that teach them valuable lessons while keeping their interest are less easy to find. That's why grandparents should be happy to discover Nico & Lola, a dog book for children that's all about the importance of kindness.

The writer/photographer duo who created this book present their lesson in the framework of a story about a little boy who helps to care for his aunt's dog. Each double-page spread presents a small incident in Nico and Lola's weekend together and follows up the event with a maxim about how to be kind.

The story by Meggan Hill is well-meaning and engaging enough, but it's the pictures by Susan M. Graunke that will capture the attention of your grandchildren. Having frequently struggled to get one usable picture of a grandchild, I was amazed at the quality of the photographs in this book that feature an active child plus a dog!

Besides being a good starting point for a conversation about kindness, the book is also good for children who are about to become pet owners. My five-year-old granddaughter was entranced by this book. I really can't see my 12-year-old granddaughters reading it more than once, although the authors recommend it for ages 2-12.

Why Especially Suited for Reading With Grandchildren

Most grandparents are eager to foster the classic virtues in their grandchildren, and kindness is certainly one of the ones that we'd most like to see. Reading Nico & Lola with grandchildren is an excellent way to begin a dialogue about kindness.