I received an advanced copy of The Unsinkable Gus Davis, a brand new children’s picture book by Laurie Trumble Davis, released June 2022, for this book review. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
One of our favorite things to do each summer is spend some time at the lake! When we’re there, we have two strict rules in place: no one goes past the back door without a life-jacket, and no one goes down to the dock alone. Ever.
Lake house vacations are the best, but there is an inherent danger in spending time at the lake. My heart throbs just a bit with worry when we’re at the lake because I hear of children who tragically die in drowning accidents each summer.
So, you can imagine my delight when I was asked to review a brand-new children’s picture book for kids ages 4-8, The Unsinkable Gus Davis by Laurie Trumble Davis about a determined little French bulldog who is just sure he can swim on his own but ultimately learns the importance of wearing a life-jacket.
Book Synopsis
Gus, the French bulldog, is convinced he can do anything -even swim! His favorite human, however, knows bulldogs can’t swim, but patiently explaining it to him does not deter him in the least. After saving her little pet several times, this smart and creative girl puts on her thinking cap and comes up with a solution to help Gus: a life-jacket for dogs!
At first Gus hates the feel of the life-jacket but quickly changes his tune when he can indeed float and swim in the water! He decides swimming with his life-jacket is the “best thing ever”! He and Bean, the clever little girl, spend the rest of the day swimming happily together.
Here’s what my girls & I loved about The Unsinkable Gus Davis
1. Lovable Characters
The little girl in the story, Bean, is caring, smart, and a wise pet owner. She patiently works with her dog, Gus, saving him from the water and helping him be successful. It’s such a cute story of human and animal friendship!
2. An Engaging Story Line
In the picture book, the story moves along through Bean’s speech and thoughts bubbles for Gus. It’s a fast-paced, sweet story that my children really enjoyed. In fact, as soon as we finished reading it for the first time, they immediately demanded a re-read. My little one even dragged the book off with her for her afternoon nap! (That means it was a big hit!)
3. Adorable Pictures
The pictures, by Paulette Bogan, are simply precious! She uses bright, bold colors and the funniest expressions for Gus the bulldog. My art-loving 7-year-old was super impressed by all the colors in the water and how the illustrator was able to make it look like the water was moving and reflecting light.
4. A Subtle, but Powerful Message
As a mom, I loved the subtle messages tucked into this story – plus the opportunity it afforded us to talk about them as a family before heading to the lake. First, there’s the message about water safety and the importance of wearing a life-jacket. Little kids (and apparently dogs!) tend to find life-jackets uncomfortable but wearing them is a life-saving must.
Second, the story gently explores the idea of overestimating what you think you can do – which always makes for a great conversation. And third, I appreciated how the characters show the importance of accepting help from a friend and problem solving to find a solution to a shared problem. Sweet, but important messages!
So glad this new picture book came across my desk! My girls really enjoyed the story, and it is sure to become one we read over and over. If you’re heading to the lake or pool this summer, you should definitely grab a copy on Amazon.
While you’re there, check out my new release, Heading into Homeschool: A Faith-Based Step-by-Step Plan for Beginning to Homeschool, too!