Gr 1--3--Becoming a therapy dog is hard work, but Madeline Finn and her dog, Star, are up to the challenge. Together, he and Madeline practice all kinds of things, including meeting new people, sitting still as cars drive by, and meeting other dogs. After months of preparation, Star is ready for his test to become a certified therapy dog. Star and Madeline go to a retirement village for his test. While most things go well, one resident, Mr. Humphrey, takes longer than the others to open up to Star. By Star's third and final testing date, Madeline has an idea that just might bring Mr. Humphrey out of his shell. This is a beautifully designed introduction to the lives of therapy dogs and how much work goes into becoming one. A backdrop of warm tan surrounds each image; this, coupled with soft purples, blues, and greens, lends a sense of familiarity and comfort to the story. Pencil lines and watercolor enhance this feeling, nonverbally communicating the effect a therapy dog has on the people he meets. Thoughtful placement of each visual and its accompanying text makes the pages balanced throughout. The text itself is of medium length and is best suited to young readers with a longer attention span. VERDICT This intergenerational story of love and acceptance is an important addition to library collections for young elementary-aged readers.--Mary Lanni, formerly at Denver P.L.

A little girl trains her young dog to be a therapy dog for residents of a retirement community. Madeline Finn is a resourceful child who starred in two previous stories about therapy dogs. In the first story Madeline was helped in learning to read by a huge, white therapy dog named Bonnie, and in the second installment Madeline adopted one of Bonnie's puppies, Star. Now Star is old enough to be trained by Madeline as a therapy dog with the help of Bonnie and her owner. Madeline practices with Star, and the pair then successfully complete a series of three tests at the retirement home. At each visit Madeline and Star reach out to an older man in a wheelchair, Mr. Humphrey, who at first will not speak or interact. The cheerful little girl and appealing dog keep trying to connect with Mr. Humphrey, and Madeline finally reaches him by reading aloud with Bonnie and Star at her side. The first-person present-tense story includes lots of dialogue and expressions of encouragement for both Madeline and Star. Charming, soft-focus illustrations provide extra details and capture the personalities of the determined child and irresistible dogs. Madeline presents white, Mr. Humphrey, black, and some of the other residents of the retirement home are also people of color. This touching story stands on its own, but fans of Madeline's previous outings will particularly enjoy reading this account that ties all the previous tales together. A gentle, heartwarming introduction to the world of therapy dogs. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.