Book Reviews for Dusty's Big Oops!
Midwest Book Review - D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer
Dusty’s Big Oops! is an appealing picture book portrait of a first day at school gone awry, and follows the obstacles to learning presented by a dog who joins his boy at school, causing both to make mistakes. Pieter Els and Nika Pieterse provide engaging illustrations that highlight Tammy Fortune’s story of what it means to make a mistake and learn from it.
The story is narrated from Dusty the dog’s perspective as he tails his beloved owner Danny to school. He anticipates the new environment as being fun, but also holds a degree of worry about it, and wonders if young Danny feels the same.
What could possibly go wrong? And what if it does?
Fortune lays out the process of trying new things, adopting a positive perspective about life, and tackling the results of big decisions and choices gone awry in a lesson that helps youngsters accept new possibilities and learn from bad experiences.
There is also an undercurrent of diversity and lessons on inclusiveness as Danny’s classroom holds many different personalities and opportunities.
Kids will laugh at Dusty’s ability to unleash chaos in the classroom, and adults will appreciate the opportunity to point out how to accept responsibility when “my oops kept getting bigger and bigger.”
Dusty’s Big Oops! presents the perfect marriage between fun and learning, and promises an engaging story that helps adults deliver not just one but a series of important life messages.
It’s highly recommended as a leisure read for young animal lovers that will spark further opportunities for engagement and absorbing early lessons on positivity and turning negative problems into insights on better choices.
Asher Syed for Readers’ Favorite
As a parent with a child who suffers from social anxiety, I was immediately drawn to Dusty’s Big Oops! Tammy Fortune details the range of emotions that many children might feel when they are placed in the spotlight. Fortune validates the feeling, does not downplay it or give the sense that it is inherently wrong, and thankfully does not give readers the impression of a simple fix. Mistakes happen and children do get embarrassed, but Fortune tells us by way of Dusty that they can be fixed, and an apology goes a long way in making things right. The illustrations by Pieter Els and Nika Pieterse are really well done, breathing life into the scenes described with a palette of bold primary colors and a nice realism in the depiction of people and pets that will allow readers to connect in a way that they may not have otherwise. There is also diversity within the classroom which is refreshing, so more children will likely see themselves reflected in the story. Overall, this is a good little book with an important message, and it was enthusiastically received by my youngest reader.
Book Reviews for Did You Say Pasghetti?
Midwest Book Review - D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer
Did You Say Pasghetti? Dusty and Danny Tackle Dyslexia tells young picture book readers that “Everyone needs to find the special way that their brain learns best” and advocates learning, kindness, and different approaches to fostering both. It follows Danny and his best friend Dusty the dog in a humorous examination of not just the process of struggling with learning, but the associated emotional trials that accompany it.
The story is narrated from dog Dusty’s perspective as he tries to help his beloved human. Danny likes school at first, but he faces what seems like many different obstacles to success, from not remembering words and rhyming words to mixing up letters, reading aloud too slowly, and not understanding math problems.
As Danny’s dyslexia problem is revealed, Dusty longs to help his beloved human companion solve his problems. But, how?
Kids with good reading skills will benefit from parental input and assistance as they absorb a lesson in self-confidence, ability, and different approaches to learning.
Pieter Els provides colorful drawings of boy and dog which bring these dilemmas and their relationship to life, while discussion questions presented after the story encourage conversations about not just dyslexia and learning abilities, but handling emotions that arise during the process of overcoming adversity.
Parents who want to teach kids more about learning disabilities, fostering an atmosphere of acceptance, problem-solving, and understanding will find Did You Say Pasghetti? just the ticket for an educational conversation, whether it’s with a child newly diagnosed with learning challenges or a peer who needs to develop empathy.
The Children's Book Review - Growing Readers
Did you say Pasghetti? is an engaging picture book about a young boy, Danny, and his ups and downs with Dyslexia as told by his best friend and dog, Dusty!
Dusty the dog and Danny are the best of friends, and Dusty loves greeting Danny when he gets home from school each day. However, one day, Danny comes home having had a terrible day at school—he had trouble reading and spelling and he was feeling not so smart. He breaks down to his Mom, and all Dusty can do is lick away his tears. Sadly, the same scene happens after school more times than Dusty can handle!
Danny’s Mom takes him to a Reading Specialist and they discover that he has Dyslexia, a learning difficulty that makes reading and writing extra challenging. Absolutely nothing is wrong with Danny, his brain just learns differently! Danny gets an individual tutor that helps him learn new tricks, and so that his teachers can better support him and his brain.
Now that Danny knows more about Dyslexia and how he learns best, things are still hard, but he stays positive, even adopting the phrase “Time to train my brain” each day before he works on his learning assignments. Danny realizes he can learn to do anything with practice, hard work, and his best bud Dusty by his side.
Did you say Pasghetti? is written by Tammy Fortune, a tutor who loves teaching kids to read, and owns a shop, “Tammy’s Toolbox,” full of fun and creative educational resources to help struggling readers. Tammy uses her knowledge in specialized training methods for children with Dyslexia, to show that having Dyslexia does not mean there is absolutely anything wrong with you; it means that your brain works and learns differently!
This book can change the trajectory of a young struggling reader’s life. Dusty is an excellent narrator for the book as he is Danny’s best friend and one of his biggest cheerleaders who encourages him never to give up – especially when things are hard!
Struggling readers will love this book as they will relate to Danny and realize that they are not alone – 1 in 5 kids has Dyslexia.
Through beautiful and bright illustrations and the OpenDyslexic font, a font designed to make reading more accessible for those with Dyslexia, readers will love looking at how the author’s words come together nicely on each illustrated page. Proficient readers will also walk away with something significant—they will learn that having empathy for others who are not able to read easily is essential. When kids put themselves in others’ shoes, they help create a positive and safe learning environment. We love the book’s overarching theme of never giving up and that it does not paint a false picture—Dyslexia will most certainly cause its fair share of challenges. With cheerleaders, supportive teachers, classmates, tutors, and a positive mindset, things can get easier!
Just like the hidden message says, that readers can find if they combine the letters on Dusty’s bones found on each page of the book, NEVER GIVE UP! An uplifting and inspiring must-read for all school-aged children, classroom teachers, and a perfect readaloud to start the school year off right!
Readers Favorite Book Review - Reviewed by Cheryl E. Rodriguez
Did You Say Pasghetti? written by Tammy Fortune introduces the adventurous characters of Dusty and Danny. Dusty is Danny’s best friend and loyal dog. Dusty sees all the hidden talents of his boy wonder. Danny is great at soccer and gives the best hugs ever. One day Danny returns home from school very sad. Crying, Danny tells his mother, “I hate school!” Sometimes the letters get mixed up, he often forgets things or says the wrong word. His classmates laugh at him, and Danny becomes frustrated. Dusty knows that Danny is really smart, and wants to help Danny. After visiting a special reading teacher, Danny and his mom find out Danny has dyslexia.
With the help of a tutor and Dusty, learning becomes easier for Danny. Danny and Dusty learn that with practice and hard work you can learn anything.
Tammy Fortune uses her years as a special education teacher to pen an amusing and educational children’s book. Did You Say Pasghetti? Dusty and Danny Tackle Dyslexia removes the stigma of learning differently. Using Dusty the dog to tell the story is a brilliant touch. The relationship between a boy and his dog is always one of a kind; dogs see and sense what others do not. It is obvious the author is a dog lover! The title brought a smile to my face, so many little ones say “pasghetti.” Fortune educates the reader in a fun-loving manner on a serious subject. The theme of “never give up” when you are challenged speaks volumes to both young and old. The illustrator, Pieter Els, did an awesome job. The colors are bright and bold and follow along with the text perfectly.
The Discussion Questions and the hidden mystery puzzle are wonderful inclusions as well. We can all use the devotion of a trustworthy friend and the self-confidence that comes when overcoming and learning new things. Did You Say Pasghetti?reminds us that sometimes learning is hard, but if we take the time to train our brain we can accomplish anything.
