Bonaparte

The Day they took Jean Claude away to school with his tuba, valise, and toy boat, the left Bonaparte at the chateau. "Bonaparte!" the boy cried. "You have everything you need, Jean Claude. Come along," the parents said. "Bonaparte, stay!" the ordered the dog. "No dogs at La School d'Excellence."

Bonaparte is devastate! Bonaparte is distraught! They have taken his boy away! Taken him far away to Pairs and La School d'Excellence where no dogs are allowed under any circumstances! Bonaparte decided to take matters into his own paws and sets out on a journey to find his boy. We watch as Bonaparte escapes the village and makes for the streets of Paris. In the amazing illustrations we get glimpses of street vendors, workers, boats floating on the river, fountains, and cafes. Bonaparte searches them all in hopes of finding his boy. Finally, on Monday he finds the school, but NO DOGS ALLOWED! Bonaparte has to find another way in! Your child will be delighted and tickled to see Bonaparte dressed up as a mother, a lunch lady, and a drummer. Giggles are sure to happen when Bonaparte dresses up as a boy and tried to apply at the school and is taken to the Dr. to be examined. On a quiet Saturday morning, Bonaparte slips in as the new janitor. Sniffing around Bonaparte discovers that his boy, Jean Claude, is missing! Bonaparte takes off, following the trail, determined to find his boy. Suddenly he hears a voice, "Bonaparte!" Could it be his boy? It is! With much rejoicing the two, boy and dog, are reunited. They return, together, to La School d'Excellence and Jean Claude explains that he will stay only if the best of friends are admitted too. What could the Regents do but accept? The school then changed it's sign from NO DOGS ALLOWED to NOW DOGS ALLOWED. The best of friends began arriving from every direction and afterwards, everyone had to agree that La School d'Excellence would never be the same again.

A wonderful story about the love of a dog for his boy. The illustrations are in great detail and every page surrounded by another border based on an architectural piece in Paris. A delightful read for all ages.

Title: Bonaparte

Author: Marsha Wilson Chall

Illustrator: Wendy Anderson Halperin

Publisher:Dorling Kindersley Publishing, Inc. (D~K, INK)

ISBN: 0-7894-2617-X