Book Look: Heroes and Hounds

"Heroes and Hounds" is a grand adventure novel by Bill Miller. Although it can be read alone by kids ready for chapter books, I can see myself reading it to my 4 year-old granddaughter and her cousin. The book has everything a child can relate to and enjoy: a loving Grandpa (Oakley); a kind of creepy person from the community who is not really creepy, the vet, Willy; and the funny, adventurous, animal-loving heroine, Carly. When Carly's favorite of the hounds gets lost on his first hunt, Carly sets out to find Hampton. She has a lot to learn about the countryside when she is off the grounds of her grandfather's farm. She is a willing learner. She is spunky without being a brat. She is much-loved though her parents are off to war. I found the attitudes of the characters to be positive reinforcement of strong values while telling a tale interesting to children.