Ben's beloved dog Aggie is headed to the vet for an important operation, and Ben is not so sure about the entire thing. "Will Aggie get hurt?" he asks the vet. "What if she gets hungry?" The vet gives him every reassurance, but, as Ben says, "I do not like what she tells me next. She tells me I can pick up Aggie tomorrow."
Any child who has ever loved a pet will recognize Ben's concern for Aggie as he spends a long day and night without her. He tries going to bed at 4pm to make tomorrow come faster. When his mom convinces him to watch a movie instead, his lap feels empty. Bright and early the next day, he is dressed and ready to pick up Aggie, though his parents are still wearing their bathrobes.
The watercolor illustrations really add depth to the story's simple, reader-friendly text. The early scenes of Ben pulling on the leash are hilarious: eyes squeezed shut, brow furrowed, and tongue poking out, he tries to get Aggie to the vet's office. The illustrations evoke distress equally well. After dropping Aggie off, when Ben simply says, "I do not feel so brave now," the page shows him breaking down into tears in his booster seat, an empty leash lying across his lap.
We've all seen children's books about getting a new dog, taking care of it, and even saying goodbye when the time comes. I don't think I've ever seen one uniquely about the trip to the vet's office to get spayed, but this book goes beyond filling this gap. It is a touching and accessible story of the loving relationship between a boy and his best dog. Aggie the Brave is the third book in this excellent early reader series, which also includes Aggie and Ben and Good Dog, Aggie. Recommended for ages 4 - 7.
