War Dogs: Churchill & Rufus

by Kathryn Selbert

Winston Churchill, the prime minister of England during World War II, was one of the greatest wartime leaders of the modern era. While he is often likened to the English bulldog due to his tenacious personality and even his physical resemblance to the breed, Mr. Churchill was actually a devoted poodle owner and held quite an affinity for his miniature poodle, Rufus, who withstood the trials of World War II by his owner’s side.

Readers follow Rufus and Winston’s friendship through major events in World War II—from the bombings of London and the invasion of Normandy to post-war reconstruction. Secondary text includes quotes from Churchill himself—taken from his rousing speeches to the people of England and to the world. Backmatter includes a timeline of World War II, an author’s note about Churchill’s pets, as well as a short biography, quote sources, and a list of recommended resources for further study.

In her debut picture book, Kathryn Selbert has created a unique look at a significant historical figure and period in world history.

Genres: Picture Books, History, Nonfiction, Biography, World War II, Childrens, War

48 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Luisa Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

Through Rufus's eyes, you'll see Winston Churchill's life during World War II, the bunker he lived in, the men he met with and the walks he took through London.

This book had just the right sprinkling of facts to not bombard the story. And a timeline and short biography at the end of Rufus I and Rufus II was a nice touch.

Ages: 5 - 9

#worldwar2 #england

**Like my reviews? I also have hundreds of detailed reports that I offer too. These reports give a complete break-down of everything in the book, so you'll know just how clean it is or isn't. I also have Clean Guides (downloadable PDFs) which enable you to clean up your book before reading it! Visit my website: The Book Radar.

[Dov Zeller · Rating 3 out of 5]

The British Bulldog and his poodle step through the days of WWII together. This is a quiet, loosely structured book organized around the theme of companionship, loyalty and courage during difficult times--and how meaningful and influenial companionship with a canine can be.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story about two war dogs, Winston Churchill and his poodle Rufus. But mostly about Churchill. The book is a brief over-view of Churchill's life during the war, and it doesn't tell you a lot. We see the bunker he lived and worked in, we see him visit with his wife, we see him address parliament. There's not that much here for an actual plot though. Each page also has a quote related to the text on it.

Given that there's not much of a plot, or a story to it, this isn't a book you'd pick up just to read. It's not the most interesting book on the time period, either. It might have been better if the author had covered a particular story (or stories) that had happened during this time, rather than just what Churchill did day-to-day.

But.

The illustrations are beautiful, and Rufus is quite adorable as he follows Mr. Churchill around on his tasks. I had to bump the rating up quite a bit on that account. I'd definitely love to see more picture book with Selbert's illustrations.

[Christina Getrost · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picture book about Winston Churchill's stewardship of the war from his bunker in London and his relationship with his brown miniature poodle Rufus. Compares Churchill to a bulldog several times, and quotes from the great leader are sprinkled throughout the book. Nice illustrations. Not truly a biography as it relates only a portion of his life, but has author's notes in back giving more details of his life and especially his pet-owning habits. Apparently this publisher has a series of picture books about famous people and their dogs (or cats): see also Bambino and Mr. Twain and Emily and Carlo.

[EMGONFER · Rating 3 out of 5]

War Dogs: Churchill & Rufus es un cómic infantil que nos muestra la Segunda Guerra Mundial a través de los ojos de Rufus, el caniche de Churchill.

A pesar de tratarse de un cómic de poco menos de 50 páginas, con textos sencillos en inglés, resultan muy interesantes su punto de vista, los datos acerca de Rufus incluidos al final y, por supuesto, la forma en la que pretende generar interés por la historia a las nuevas generaciones.

[Melissa I · Rating 5 out of 5]

War Dogs:
Churchill and Rufus
Written and Illustrated by Kathryn Selbert

Insightful historical fiction book about WWII told from the perspective of both Winston Churchill and his brown miniature poodle, Rufus. With each page turn and carefully chosen quote, the reader can see the war unfolding before them. The readers can also get a clear picture of what historically is happening during that time in WWII and in Churchill’s life as a prominent leader of Great Britain. There is a person that is introduced in the book that is not talked about much in history, but played a huge encouraging, supporting, comforting role in Churchill’s life. Can you figure out who that is?

Churchill’s playful dog, Rufus, always seems to know what was going on. The readers can find Rufus at the feet of Churchill and exploring and guarding the places where they work together. However, most importantly, Selbert describes Rufus in such a way where readers can picture him continually wagging his fluffy tail and looking up at Churchill with supportive, encouraging eyes of approval for the work they have accomplished!


Book Ideas for Implementation in the Classroom:

I would recommend using this book as an introduction to a history lesson on Winston Churchill and WWII. Even though the book is an easier read, I would suggest it for 4th grade and higher, so that way the readers understand the full historical context of the book and can appreciate the quotes.

http://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?t... – offers discussion questions and a historical timeline to reference while teaching about WWII

http://www.clcd.com.prox.lib.ncsu.edu... - lists an award this book/author won and additional reviews

At the back of the text, Selbert provides a timeline and biographical information that you could also expound upon for a lesson.


Don’t miss out on this action-packed historical fiction book where Kathryn Selbert describes Churchill and Rufus as active partners in leading Great Britain to victory in WWII. “The road to victory may not be so long as we expect. But we have no right to count upon this. Be it long or short, rough or smooth, we mean to reach our journey’s end. August 1940.” Wise words of the greatly intelligent, British leader, Winston Churchill, found in the pages of War Dogs: Churchill and Rufus written and illustrated by Kathryn Selbert.

[Yannick · Rating 3 out of 5]

CATEGORIES/GENRES FOR THIS CLASS FULFILLED BY THIS BOOK:
nonfiction/picture book

ESTIMATE OF GRADE LEVEL INTEREST:
3-6

ESTIMATE OF READING LEVEL:
5.3
BRIEF DESCRIPTION:
Through the eyes of Rufus, Winston Churchill's poodle, we see how England survived W.W. II

IDENTIFY AT LEAST 2 CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS GENRE AND SUBGENRE AND DISCUSS HOW THEY APPEAR IN YOUR BOOK:
Picture books convey the message of the story through both pictures and text. In this book, the text often provides quotes of Churchill's. For example, in one instance, in a note "thumbtacked" to the page he is stating how his heart bleeds for the country after it was bombed, but the acrylic and collage illustrations show the actually somber aftermath of the destruction of the city in muted and dark hues. A characteristic of non-fiction books is that material is presented clearly and directly. The author's style in this book is very straightforward when she is explaining factually correct incidents such as bombings, attacks, and reconstruction.

IN WHAT WAYS AND HOW WELL DOES THE BOOK AS A WHOLE SERVE ITS INTENDED AUDIENCE?:
Readers who are on the cusp of wanting to learn more about historical events, but who are still attracted to picture books will be engaged by the adorable illustrations of Rufus the Poodle, and also by the detail, that is accurate, but not overwhelming for a young reader.

AWARDS IF ANY:
None

LINKS TO PUBLISHED REVIEWS FROM PROFESSIONAL SOURCES:
Booklist, 01/01/13
Horn Book Magazine, 11/01/13
Kirkus Reviews starred, 01/01/13
Library Media Connection, 11/01/13
Publishers Weekly, 12/10/12
School Library Journal, 03/01/13

[Paula Hollohan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book tracking Churchill and his dog, Rufus, through the second world war. So much information...Parts of Churchill's writings, timelines, illustrations to ponder, and lots of extra information. Would be a great browser in grades 3-6 for the non-fiction reader.

[Sheila Dailie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good look at Churchill and his dog, who was an important part of keeping his cool. Illustrations make war seem real without being too gruesome--the book does not romanticize war at all.

[DeNae · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great, easy introduction to history.

[Emerson John Tiu Ng · Rating 5 out of 5]

love the story

[Shelli Holechek]

Love, love, love this book. I can think of so many possibilities of how to use this book in my classroom. For example, the notes on the pages would lead into a great writing lesson. I am a dog lover myself, I would not consider myself an all together animal lover, but definitely a dog lover. As I read, I drew from prior knowledge and connected with the characters in many ways, because of experiences I have had with my own 4 legged best friend, Jazz.

I had a hard time finding a fiction twin text that I felt lived up to being paired with this book. Especially one that was copyright 2010 or newer. I just felt this was an exceptional book. I love how history has compared Churchill's personalty to that of a bulldog, but his pet Rufus was a miniature poodle. Cute! This shows there was a soft side to the man.

I thought about all the Carl books by Alexandra Day, but they are so old. I also thought about Marly and Me by John Grogan. The copyright is 2005 and it is a young adult book, not a picture book. The texts I am pairing with War Dogs are Dog Loves Books by Louise Yates, 2010. And Snow Puppy by Marcus Pfister, 2011. I am using two books, because as I said, I felt it was hard to find the exact right pair. Dog Loves Books is a fiction picture book about a dog that loves books so much he opens his own book store. Dog discovers that through books he can escape and travel to wherever his imagination can take him. I chose this book because it portrays the dogs character in a very human way. Dog loves to read, and my students love to read. So there is a connection. The other book I am pairing with War Dogs is Snow Puppy. In this book a puppy named Rascal goes out to play in the snow, loses track of time and space and ends up lost and cold. I chose this book because it shows the puppy character as all dog. The two fiction books are a nice contrast because you see the human side of the dog in Dog loves books and the puppy side of the dog in Snow Puppy. We dog lovers know that our dogs have a little human mixed in with dog. My students who have dogs will be able to totally relate to this and my students who don't have dogs still can relate to the antics of the Snow Puppy.

War Dogs is a nice mix of both. Rufus seems to understand the pressure his owner is under, he seems to be offering emotional support as he is by his side through all the hard decisions and major events of Churchill's life during the war.

On a side note, I know for a fact that all my students have dogs and I think these three books together would work on so many levels with my class.

My content area crossovers would be as I stated above using the War Dog text to inspire a writing lesson in my room. More specifically, journal writing. Most of the pages in War Dogs have a note taken from Churchill's personal journal. I also could use that idea to have the students write about what Rascal's journal may have said the day he got lost in the snow. Or Dog's journal as he read the different books in his bookstore. And, of course, there is the obvious history lesson in War Dogs. Using the two fiction books may help ease the kids who are afraid of history into the history of World War II. Seeing the human side of Churchill, because of his love for a dog, may also help get the students interested in the history lesson within the book. Let's not forget time lines too. So many possibilities!

[Margo Tanenbaum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Winston Churchill was known during his lifetime as the British Bulldog, due to his famous tenacity. In addition to being a great statesman, writer, and orator, Churchill was an animal lover, but it was not bulldogs who lived alongside the famous man, but miniature poodles.

This new picture book by debut author/illustrator Kathryn Selbert tells the story of the British home front by highlighting Churchill's relationship with his poodle, Rufus. The author opens with the following:

"Rufus's best friend, Winston Churchill, is a busy man, but most days Rufus and Winston share a walk."

It's 1940, and Winston is managing a nation at war. Through the eyes of Rufus, Churchill's faithful brown miniature poodle, we see Churchill at work, visiting his secret underground bunker, the room from which he directs the war, going to the House of Commons, walking through streets filled with rubble from buildings destroyed by Nazi bombers. Rufus is not always invited along however; when Winston meets with his allies, Franklin Roosevelt and Joseph Stalin, to plan D-Day, Rufus sits by the door, patiently guarding the bunker. Rufus is once again by Churchill's side as the war ends, barking and howling with happiness. In the end, Rufus and Winston retire to the country, resting..."two war dogs." In the final lovely two-page spread dominated by the greens of the English countryside, Winston and Rufus gaze out to the horizon, with the country finally at peace.

Back matter includes a timeline of World War II, a look at Churchill and his affection for poodles (he owned two during his lifetime, both named Rufus), and a brief biography of Winston Churchill himself. The author also includes books for young Churchill fans, Churchill and World War II-related websites, a bibliography, and quotation sources.

Acrylic and collage illustrations have an nostalgic yet realistic look, with plenty of sepia tones suggesting a time long ago. Each two-page spread features a quotation by Churchill on a yellowed piece of paper, in an old-fashioned typewriter-style font, designed to look like it has been pinned to the rest of the picture. An interview on the Charlesbridge website indicates that this book grew out of an undergraduate school project, but that the book originally focused more on the relationship between dog and owner, and less on the historical details. The book now provides more of an introduction to World War II, one that would be a good classroom read-aloud while studying that time period. The book will, of course, capture the heart of dog lovers as well as history lover, with its illustrations that depict Rufus in all his poodle splendor.

[Alex Baugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

It isn't surprising that Winston Churchill was an animal lover, but you would expect he would have a larger dog than a little poodle as one of his beloved pets. But during the darkest days of World War II, one of his great comforts and his constant companion was his little dog named Rufus, a spunky brown poodle.

War Dogs is written from the point of view of Rufus and introduces readers Churchill when he was Prime Minister of Britain during World War II from 1940 to 1945.

In this vividly imagines picture of their life together, at times Rufus accompanies his master through the rubble of the bombed out streets of London, or sits nearby as Churchill writes his famous speeches delivered in the House of Commons and over the radio to the British citizens. Other times, they go out for quiet walks, or spend time in the underground bunker, where Rufus likes to inspect every nook and cranny while Churchill works.

Rufus is privy to all the secret plans for the D-Day landings at Normandy long before most people, and he is by Churchill's side when victory finally comes and the two companions could retire to the country. As readers go along, they learn not only about the special relationship between this great man and his dog, but also some important preliminary facts about the war and they will be able to read some of the more famous lines of Churchill's speeches scattered along the pages.

The detailed, realistic acrylic and collage illustrations for War Dogs are done in a palate of earth tones, emphasizing the different moods of the war years and moving the narrative along nicely. Two of the most effective illustrations are two page spreads of London at night during the blackout where only the faint outlines of buildings, including St. Paul's Cathedral, can be seen and the last two pages showing Churchill and Rufus from the back, the two war dogs, sitting side by side on a grassy knoll, looking over the tranquil grounds of Churchill's home after the war and a job well done.

War Dogs is Kathryn Selbert's debut work and it is an excellent beginning for this talented artist. In addition, Selbert has also included back matter which includes a timeline, information about Churchill and poodles and about Churchill himself. There are also websites, books and a bibliography for more in-depth information.

This is also an excellent book to use as a teaching aid in the classroom or for home schooling.

This book is recommended for readers age 6+
This book was bought for my personal library

This review was originallly posted at The Children's War

[Sunday · Rating 5 out of 5]

For intermediate grade students - this would be a good partner read or teacher read aloud with text-dependent questions like, "How does the author develop the idea that Churchill and Rufus are 'war dogs'?" Selbert positions Churchill as "dog-like" at many points in the book--some more explicitly than others. For example, there's a page that describes Churchill speaking to Parliament - "Winston, his shoulders set like a tenacious bulldog's, wades to the front of the hall and begins to speak." On another page, Churchill's wife, Clementine, visits him and Rufus in a war bunker where Churchill's office was during the war; the text states that she holds her husband's hand and then kisses his cheek and, on the same page, she holds Rufus and "rubs behind his ears until he falls asleep." Clementine is showing affection for both war dogs in a sense - Churchill and Rufus.

Selbert, the author, also includes quotes from Churchill that are critical in understanding the brevity of the war. (Most of the quotes are too difficult conceptually for 2nd or early 3rd grade students.) A question for students to consider might be, "Why is this particular quote relevant in this part of the book?"

Students should read and reread additional features the author includes at the end of the book--a timeline of WWII, a short essay about Churchill and his beloved pets, and another short essay about Churchill himself. In the intermediate grades, a teacher might read aloud the book and then engage the students in close reading of one of the two essays for the author's main idea or in response to prompts like, "How would you describe Churchill based on your reading of this essay? Why? What parts of the text made you think so?" or "Churchill was an important figure in WWII. Identify and explain evidence in the text that supports this idea."

A teacher book introduction should emphasize the title--I didn't pay much attention to the title and as I read, felt like I wasn't learning much about Rufus. When I rethought the title - War Dogs (plural), the book made more sense to me. My point is that students shouldn't assume the book will be mostly about Rufus--actually it's more about Churchill and his role in WWII.

A lot of potential for teaching in grades 4-5 with students studying World War II. While this book is listed for grades 2-5, I think it would be hard for 2nd and even 3rd grade students to understand the main ideas in this book. For all readers, the author assumes some background knowledge about WWII--the conflict, the players, and the geography.

This book was awarded the International Literacy Association Children's and Young Adults' Book Award for primary nonfiction 2014.

[Yannick · Rating 3 out of 5]

CATEGORIES/GENRES FOR THIS CLASS FULFILLED BY THIS BOOK:
Non-fiction picture book/Ebook TumbleBooks

ESTIMATE OF GRADE LEVEL INTEREST:
3-6

ESTIMATE OF READING LEVEL:
5.3

BRIEF DESCRIPTION:
Through the eyes of Rufus, Winston Churchill's poodle, we see how England survived the war.

IDENTIFY AT LEAST 2 CHARACTERISTICS OF THIS GENRE AND SUBGENRE AND DISCUSS HOW THEY APPEAR IN YOUR BOOK:
ebooks expand and enhance the traditional learning experience. This book, because it alternates between close-up shots of the illustrations, and shots that are pulled back, bring the story to life in a way that a physical book does not. Parts of the illustrations move on the screen while the book plays, which further enhance the book. For example, the dog's ears move as Winston talks to him, and steam rising from a coffee cup suddenly appears whereas a moment ago it wasn't there. Another characteristic of an ebook is that it engages multiple literacies and learning styles, and this book, because it gives the student the option of having the book read aloud to them, provides for readers of different levels.

IN WHAT WAYS AND HOW WELL DOES THE BOOK AS A WHOLE SERVE ITS INTENDED AUDIENCE?:
Children who are becoming curious about real events in history, but who are still attracted to picture books will be satisfied with how well the author merges the two and provides factual text with clear illustrations of an adorable dog. Children, who want to learn more about the time period, will also be interested in looking at the last few pages which give a timeline of events, and more detail about Churchill's life.

AWARDS IF ANY:
None

LINKS TO PUBLISHED REVIEWS FROM PROFESSIONAL SOURCES:
Booklist, 01/01/13
Horn Book Magazine, 11/01/13
Kirkus Reviews starred, 01/01/13
Library Media Connection, 11/01/13
Publishers Weekly, 12/10/12
School Library Journal, 03/01/13

[Erin.painter]

Non-fiction text:
Selbert, Kathryn (2013). War dogs: Churchill and Rufus. Watertown: Charlesbridge.

Twin fiction text:
Capucilli, A., & Schories, P. (2012). Biscuit and the lost teddy bear. New York: Harper Collins.
Biscuit and the Lost Teddy Bear

The non-fiction text is a biography of Winston Churchill during World War Two. It not only chronicles the factual events of the time and his role in them, but also emphasizes the importance of his dog Rufus in his life. In the text, the dog Rufus has thoughts and feelings about the events taking place around him. He seems to be a sensitive and caring companion to his human master. The use of the cute dog to help appeal to children's interest in actual historical events is a useful device in this text.

The fictional text I paired with it is also about a dog. In my imagining, the character Biscuit would already be a well known character for some of the children. The two text pair together because they both use anthropomorphism to appeal to children to tell a story. While they are very different stories, in my fictional library setting I would start with the fictional, well known Biscuit character to lead into talking about Rufus. Just as Biscuit is aware of events in human life, Rufus is aware of the things around him as well. While one is more entertainment and one is more informative, I think the appeal of the dogs is a way to lead in to the non-fictional text about Winston Churchill.

[Peggy Tibbetts · Rating 5 out of 5]

British Prime Minister Winston Churchill was a tenacious leader through World War II. A champion of the people, they called him the British Bulldog. Contrary to popular belief, Churchill never owned a bulldog. He preferred the company of brown miniature poodles.

“War Dogs” is the story of the British Bulldog’s leadership during World War II as seen through the eyes of his faithful comrade, Rufus, a brown miniature poodle. When Churchill was hard at work in the bunker under the city of London, or speaking at the House of Commons, or walking the bomb-damaged streets, Rufus was there by his side. Through the trials and tribulations of war, Rufus offered the kind of comfort and companionship only man’s best friend could give. Selected quotations from Churchill’s speeches appear on the pages like notes pinned to a bulletin board. They reveal the British Bulldog’s enduring love for the people and his compassion for their suffering, whether citizens or soldiers. Kathryn Selbert’s method of presenting the war from a dog’s point of view is uniquely charming.

Selbert’s acrylic and collage 2-page spreads depict the scope and drama of the British defense against the German invasion, as well as the love and devotion between Rufus and Churchill. End pages include a World War II timeline, more back story about Churchill and his poodles, plus many more resources about Churchill and World War II. Join this irresistible pair of “War Dogs” for a compelling journey through World War II history.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

First sentence: Rufus's best friend, Winston Churchill, is a busy man, but most days Rufus and Winston share a walk.

Premise/plot: Essentially, War Dogs is a picture book biography of Winston Churchill during the Second World War told from the point of view of his poodle, Rufus. The book has plenty of Churchill quotes throughout. These are set apart from the main text, and are easily identifiable. One of the quotes is:

The road to victory may not be so long as we we expect. But we have no right to count upon this. Be it long or short, rough or smooth, we mean to reach our journey's end. August 1940

My thoughts: I loved, loved, loved, LOVED this one. War Dogs would definitely be more of a picture book for older readers than a story you'd share aloud with preschoolers. But. I think picture books for older readers are important and necessary, and can be quite LOVELY. I do think that picture books can be for everyone--people for all ages. So I'd definitely recommend this one. It would be a great introduction--picture book introduction--to the Second World War, and to Winston Churchill in particular. So if you're a history lover or a dog lover, you should definitely consider picking this one up!!!

I love the text. I love the illustrations. I love how each quote is sourced. Not all picture book biographies show their work when it comes to research. This one does! (Can you tell that I tend to love research myself!)

Text: 5 out of 5
Illustrations: 4 out of 5
Total: 9 out of 10

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

While young readers will need to be provided with background on WWII and Winston Churchill, the subject of this book, they are sure to be interested in the strong bond between the British Prime Minister and his beloved miniature poodle, Rufus. Since the back matter offers a photograph and information about the two, readers may be fascinated to learn more about the dog who sat in Churchill's speech at the House of Commons and kept his master's spirits up during the long war with Germany. The book almost reads like a memoir, told in fits and starts, accompanied by quotations from Churchill displayed held in place with pushpins. Sharing the back matter that explains the origin of Churchill's nickname may help young readers understand the book's title, content, and final lines better. The acrylic and collage illustrations are eye-catching, showing the country during idyllic times of peace and during its darkest days after the Germans had destroyed much of the city. Through it all, Rufus remained by his master's side.

[Aaron Gill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting book about one of the most significant leaders during World War 2. The book is told with Churchill's poodle always at his side. As I have recently learned, Churchill loved poodles, and his love for dogs really makes him a relate-able figure in this book.

The book features scenes from Churchill's time as prime minister. It also has quotes on just about every other page, which add some nice historical context.

The book could be read by anyone in first through fourth grade. It's an easy read, but the end of the book has some great information about the war and Churchill (this final section would be too challenging for a younger audience.) The last few pages also feature a timeline and other interesting facts. I would recommend the picture book section for a younger audience, but there's a lot to be learned in this book!

This could be used as a great introductory text to a lesson on World War Two. It features one of the war's most prominent feature and a lot of great factual information on the war.

[Turrean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Illustrated with realistic illustrations in a soft palette, the book tells the story of London during World War II from the perspective of Winston Churchill's dog, Rufus. The book does not anthropomorphize the dog; rather, it emphasizes the canine characteristics (loyalty, persistence, "doggedness") of Churchill himself. There was an extensive bibliography, including sources for the Churchill quotes that are scattered through the text. This is a winner.

This would be a nice book for dog fans, history fans, and especially for kids eager to learn more about the World Wars. There are lots of young readers who are avid fans of military history but who are not yet ready to face the true horror of war; this could fill the bill. The book shows some of the damage inflicted by German bombers in the city of London, and there's one somber nighttime spread, but the emphasis is on the personal efforts of Churchill and his pet, and not on suffering and carnage.

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

A look at Churchill and his tense days during the war through the the daily activities spent with his beloved poodle. I struggled with the writing style and found the artwork to be the stronger of the two. Artwork was rendered in acrylic and collage and excels at the range covered in this book: from peaceful moments to a city destroyed.

I found the writing and the perspective to be strange. I felt like it required a bit more prior knowledge from the reader than I brought to this reading and which I predict many children will bring to this reading. I liked seeing a more intimate, human side of the famous political figure, but admittedly I will struggle with recommending this title.

Supplemental materials include: timeline, a note about Churchill's relationship with his poodles, a note about Churchill, recommended books and websites, bibliography, and quotation sources.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an odd little book. It's a picture book biography of Winston Churchill's war years, but told in the context of his relationship with a poodle. No, I'm not making that up.
Actually, it humanizes the very difficult times of World War II, and takes the leader of a nation and turns him into a person who can be understood just a bit better as a man.
Rufus, the dog, is drawn larger than the real dog was, possibly to make him more visible in the illustrations, but still very cute. The scenes of the dog waiting patiently for his master to help determine the course of human events were great.
I'm not sure who the best audience for the book would be, though. Kids old enough to really appreciate the information might not like the format. Still, this would be a good extra book to hand to kids trying to learn about World War II, especially Britain's part in it.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great read with nicely done full-bleed illustrations. I love the two page opening in the middle of the book, where we see St. Peters, which survives the Nazi bombing during WWII. This is a poignant story of Winston Churchill, leading Great Britain in war time and his brown poodle, Rufus. There is a contrasting of the everyday things in life, such as a walk with your dog in the park, and the destruction of war times, with planes overhead. The illustration are neat in that they create metaphors. A flock of war planes in the sky and a flock of pigeons in front of a thoughtful Churchill. This book also discusses the meetings of Stalin, Churchill, and Roosevelt.

Pair this with other biographies of country and state leaders. It could also be paired with information on how dogs actually serve in wartime efforts.

[IrenesBookReviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a simple book about the famed Churchill and his time in charge during the war. The speaker throughout the book is his dog Rufus, which makes the story more inviting for children. The illustrations are not that inviting but they did not deter me from enjoying the story. The end finds a page about Churchill and his real dogs. There is also a page describing a little more about who Churchill was and all he accomplished. The date map of the war was helpful and easy to read and understand. I gave this book 5/5 stars and would recommend it to teachers of elementary age students studying Churchill, England history or the war.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't really know what to expect, even after reading the blurb. But I had a lot of fun reading it. Putting it in the dog's perspective on third person narration is a great idea. I got to read Churchill's quotes on the pages throughout the story. A really nice touch, I might add. If ever I do a kid's book like this one, I want to do that too.
And the timeline at the back of the book is brilliant! I learned a few more things in the World War 2 years. I found it very interesting.
I am glad Gabriel had this title in his skype status. I look forward to the audiobook coming out. My new friend is very good at what he does. :)

[Holly Mueller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story about Winston Churchill and his dog, Rufus. The story is told in limited third person point of view, focusing on Rufus, who is Chuchill's loyal companion. We are taken on a journey through war, Winston's relationship with his wife, and leading his beloved England. I love reading about Churchill, and kids will have a wonderful and unique introduction to this larger than life historical figure in an endearing way - through Rufus. Great Churchill quotes throughout the book, also. Good notes about Churchill's dogs and timeline in the back.

[Penny Peck · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this picture book that introduces young readers to Winston Churchill, his dog Rufus is the focus. By describing Churchill's wartime activities through the perspective of his dog, readers will learn a little about this great man, and perhaps look for more concrete biographies. Back matter includes a timeline, list of sources, and note with more factual material. Useful as a read-aloud to an elementary school class studying WWII.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Acrylic and collage illustrations accompany the story of Rufus, a miniature poodle, that accompanied Winston Churchill throughout WWII. I appreciated Churchill's quotes that accompanied the text and that painted the timeline for events throughout the war. Younger readers would need a bit more background knowledge than the text provides, but this would be an excellent accompaniment with various primary sources and documents from the era.