The Adventures of Gunner the Poodle Pony, Gunner Meets Stella

By Lynne McGlothlen

Illustrated by David Gnass

Mascot Books; June 2, 2020

Happy book birthday to The Adventures of Gunner the Poodle Pony, Gunner Meets Stella by Lynne McGlothlen! Thank you, www.mascotbooks.com, for sending me a copy to review.

Meet Gunner, a standard poodle who looks big enough to ride! This story of Gunner is based an a real standard poodle named Gunner. Gunner is a therapy dog who visits residents and families in hospice and senior care centers.

I loved reading this story about Gunner meeting Stella, a young girl who was visiting her grandmother in a hospice center. Stella was very sad, but Gunner helped her to express her feelings and performed tricks to make her feel better.

I am fascinated by therapy dogs. I learned more about dogs who go to school to become therapy dogs as I read The Adventures of Gunner the Poodle Pony. I even learned why he is called a poodle pony!

Readers who love dogs and adventures will enjoy this book. This book would also be good to read with children who are going through the loss of a grandparent or parent due to illness. The Adventures of Gunner the Poodle Pony is a great book to read to open up conversations with children about scary end-of-life events.

Why I Liked The Adventures of Gunner the Poodle Pony:

~ I loved learning more about poodles

~ I loved learning about therapy dogs

~ I was happy to read that Gunner was able to encourage and help Stella as she faced the loss of her grandmother

~ The story is easy to read

~ In this story, Gunner actually talks to Stella. He is a poodle gifted with conversation skills!

~ The backmatter taught me more about the author, poodles, dogs, and therapy dogs

~ Gunner is pretty adorable!

Amazon Blurb:

Gunner is a special poodle. He’s what you might call “amazing” even! Gunner can do all kinds of tricks, but his most important job is to help others when they are sick or sad. When Stella’s grandmother is sick in Hospice, Gunner is there to comfort her.