Error loading page.
Try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, there may be a network issue, and you can use our self test page to see what's preventing the page from loading.
Learn more about possible network issues or contact support for more help.

Rosie Runs

ebook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2023 KIDS’ INDIE NEXT LIST SELECTION
A racing dog named Rosie escapes the track and bounds towards freedom in this panoramic heartwarming tale. For young readers who love people-watching, sniffing wild plants, racing in the wind, and other small joys of life.

Rosie dreams of forests, meadows, hares, and freedom. Trapped at the racetrack, she sprints in endless circles – until one day, Rosie makes a fearless beeline to the enormous world beyond the track. Scared and a little excited too, Rosie runs through shadowy forests, a circus, a bustling train station, and even takes a quick dip alongside a ferry. She keeps running through small towns and whirling cities, observing the gentle, giddy moments of passersby. Readers will find peace in a private look at a man watering his plants, or a jolt of happiness at a long-snouted dog wearing a cap on a train. A book about taking in the wide world around you, Rosie Runs beckons young readers to rediscover their favorite hobbies and passions, and revel in the joy of playing and being among new friends.
  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

  • Formats

  • Languages

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      Starred review from June 5, 2023
      Like the other racing dogs, sleek Rosie, dressed in jersey number two, chases a mechanical hare around the track every day. The spectators enjoy the show, but it’s hard on Rosie and her companions, who move restlessly in their cages at the racetrack each night. The day after she wins a race, Rosie starts off running again, but when she gets to the finish line, she doesn’t stop. She leaps over the track fence (“The spectators gasp in wonder”) and keeps going through crowds portrayed with varying skin tones, pacing a train, barreling through a subway station, following a pink car, and soon, finding herself washed out to sea. But she’s in no danger, and when she comes ashore elsewhere, she encounters new canine companions in a place where she’s more than just a jersey number. This story by Finnish creator Maijala offers many pleasures: riveting, sustained motion; the suspense of wondering whether Rosie will be captured; and acute observations (a tethered circus pony “neighs in longing as Rosie runs by”). A series of wide-angle views roughly stroked in crayon-like colors give a mosaic feel to Rosie’s flat-out dash for freedom in this triumphant escape story. Ages 3–7.

    • Kirkus

      November 15, 2023
      A greyhound abandons her pursuit of mechanical hares in favor of chasing her dreams in this translated Finnish import by award-winning author and artist Maijala. Rosie runs, but she never gets anywhere. After racing other dogs at the track, the exhausted white greyhound is shut in a cage, where she dreams of "forests, fields, and real hares." Winning brings no satisfaction, so one day, Rosie keeps running--past the astonished crowd, beyond the racetrack, through a forest and a city, until, at last, she reaches a park. There, two friendly dogs invite Rosie, still wearing her red racing suit, to play--and, suddenly, a new world opens up to a dog whose life was bound by the bars of a kennel and the narrow confines of a racing track. The whimsical, abstract art, executed in broad, playful, childlike strokes of oil pastel and crayon, add to the story's sense of innocent adventure and discovery. The absence of black outlines in the joyful and expressive illustrations lends a sense of fluidity in keeping with the storyline. The large trim size begs readers to notice small details about the people (who are diverse in skin tone and hair color) and bustling background scenes. Spangenberg's translation reads smoothly, capturing the poignancy of Rosie's tale and the juxtaposition between her urgent flight to freedom and the ordinary lives unfolding around her. A touching, optimistic, and charmingly rendered story of hope and resilience. (author's note, translator's note) (Picture book. 3-7)

      COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

    • School Library Journal

      December 22, 2023

      K-Gr 2-Rosie is a racing greyhound who manages to escape the racetrack and find a park to be with other dogs. During her magical escape, she zooms in a manic flight through a circus, houses, subways, the ocean, etc. to finally find a safe place to be herself. The book is told through full-color spreads and vignettes with facing images. The text is largely descriptive with Rosie's point of view told in the third person until the very end, when she meets other dogs. Diversity of people in this story is shown with gestural representations of the audience of crowds using color. The rough pastel drawings are beguiling and through sketched gestures show the speed of Rosie moving through the landscape. VERDICT Where dog stories are popular, or books in translation, this is a recommended purchase for its blissful adventure of Rosie the dog.-Vi Ha

      Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • Kindle Book
  • OverDrive Read
  • EPUB ebook

Languages

  • English

Loading