View source for Choosing Crumble by Michael Rosen and Tony Ross (Illustrator)

{{infobox2
|title=Choosing Crumble
|author=Michael Rosen and Tony Ross (Illustrator)
|reviewer=Anne Thompson
|genre=Emerging Readers
|rating=4.5
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|isbn=9781849395281
|pages=80
|publisher=Andersen Press
|date=January 2014
|aznuk=1849395284
|aznus=1849395284
|cover=1849395284
|website=http://www.michaelrosen.co.uk/
|summary=A funny and appealing story for newly independent readers telling you all you
need to know about choosing the perfect pet...or maybe the pet is choosing you!
}}
Terri- Lee wants a dog. She is positive that a dog will be the perfect pet for her and will settle for nothing else. When Terri-Lee and her mum visit the pet shop together they think that they will be choosing a dog however, Crumble, the dog, has very different ideas. He wants to be sure that his prospective owner is the perfect match for him and has a few questions of his own. Will Terri- Lee be able to convince Crumble that she should be his owner?

[[:Category:Michael Rosen|Michael Rosen]] is a children’s author who believes strongly that children should be allowed to read for pleasure and this is clearly demonstrated in this appealing story. Young children will probably find the rather eccentric approach to the choosing of a pet very funny. Underneath the humour and Crumble’s rather intensive interview of Terri-Lee they will also learn a great deal about how to look after a pet and treat it properly. The vital information that Crumble shares includes: dogs like to chew (in fact they love to chew a lot), dogs like instructions that use very few words, they like having their coats brushed, they like their baskets to be kept in a warm place, they don’t like being left alone and this particular dog definitely does not want to be called Lassie!

This book would be perfect for a new reader to read alone or to be read aloud to a slightly younger child. The length of the story is not too daunting and is broken up with illustrations by [[:Category:Tony Ross|Tony Ross]]. Newly independent readers are comforted by the familiar, often returning to read old favourites, and many children will have already seen Tony Ross’s work in picture books so the overall look of the book may appeal to them too. This is a refreshing alternative to the reading scheme books that so many children encounter and would be an enjoyable read for a child just gaining confidence in reading independently. 

There is a growing range of books available for emerging readers and coincidentally one of my favourites is about dogs too. I can highly recommend [[Dixie O'Day in the Fast Lane by Shirley Hughes and Clara Vulliamy]] about the adventures of two rather dapper little dogs. Slightly younger children will enjoy [[Katie McGinty Wants a Pet by Jenna Harrington and Finn Simpson]].

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[[Category:Michael Rosen]]
[[Category:Tony Ross]]
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