Nadine, My Funny and Trusty Guide Dog

An adult narrator shares a day’s adventure with her playful guide dog, Nadine, in a story drawn from the author’s experience with her own guide dog. The unnamed woman awakens to find that Nadine has scattered dirty laundry across the floor, which she must collect before they prepare to venture outdoors; getting Nadine into her harness requires giving her a treat (“Guide dogs know they will get a reward for good work,” the woman explains). But Nadine proves her worth when a winter storm hits during their walk, helping the woman avoid ice patches and cars, while ignoring distractions like other dogs. While Fleischman does a fine job of explaining the relationship between a blind person and her guide dog, the story never moves beyond its didactic aims, and Ford’s artwork looks rushed and inconsistent, with backgrounds and secondary characters getting scant attention. Ages 5–8. (Feb.)