No-Matter-What Friend tells the story of the special relationship between a boy and his old dog through rhyme. Though both the boy and the dog are growing older, they can always count on each other as special friends. This is a good first reader.
Kari-Lynn Winters is an award-winning children's author, playwright and performer. She teaches at Brock University and lives with her family in St. Catharines, Ontario.
Pierre Pratt has been illustrating and writing children's books for over two decades. He is a three-time recipient of the Governor General's Award and has won the Mr. Christie Book Award, among many other prizes. Pierre lives in Montreal and Lisbon.
"A charming story about friendship enduring even when one member becomes old. True friendship lasts forever. Colorful illustrations complement the storyline, depicting the experiences of the boy and dog."
— Children's Literature
"A touching, understated story in which a boy looks back at growing up with his faithful dog. . . Soft-focus, impressionistic illustrations create a dreamlike world witha misty quality suggestive of hazy memories."
— Kirkus Reviews
"A sweet elegaic story about a boy and a dog growing old together. . . An evocation of the special relationship many of us have with our animal friends."
— Shelley Sommer
"Written in simple, sparse moving verse for the understanding of children ages 3 to 6, No-Matter-What Friend explores the depth and comfort of a relationship between a growing boy and his old dog, who has been his faithful friend, protector, and companion since babyhood . . . Masterful illustrations map out the emotional content of every nuance of interaction, evoking warmth, sensitivity, and all the feelings of joy and sadness a heart's love can feel."
— Midwest Book Reviews
"No-Matter-What Friend is a moving storybook. . . While the outcome of the story is somewhat predictable based on the title, young readers would enjoy the message, and the adults reading the story would be pleased with the teachable moment it provides. While I did not particularly like the illustrations, all three of my daughters did. My 10-year-old liked the book because "it teaches a lesson", and she liked the "brush strokes" in the illustrations. My four-year-old liked the page without any words because she had to use her imagination, and my six-year-old felt the illustrations "looked like chalk drawings". Overall, No-Matter-What Friend is a very touching story.
Recommended. "
— CM Magazine
"The association of Kari-Lynn Winters' endearing text with Pierre Pratt's art depicts fully the wealth and breadth of the two characters' companionable love."
— CanLit for LittleCanadians
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