What's It All About?
Officer Buckle is VERY safety conscious. In fact, he knows more safety tips than anyone else in his town of Napville. He loves sharing them with the local schoolchildren. While normally the kids tend to fall asleep during his dull presentations until Gloria the police dog is thrown in the mix. They can’t help cheering and laughing at all of his presentations. Officer buckle is thrilled that they are finally beginning to appreciate safety until he learns that his dog Gloria has been up to some slapstick nonsense behind his back – literally!
What'd I Think?
I enjoyed finding all the funny extras going on in the illustrations such as the many rules Officer Buckle posted. The partnership between the dog and his handler is a warm one that I think will resonate well with children as well as show the power of teamwork. It can't be all work or all play, you need a good mix of both to provide the best experience.
I give it 4 out of 5 stars!
What'd They Think?
School Library Journal -
(September 01, 1995;
9780399226168)
K-Gr 3‘A fresh, funny story about
the wonders of teamwork. Officer Buckle is a safety-conscious policeman who
spends his time devising tips for avoiding accidents. Unfortunately, the
children of Napville School are an ungrateful audience, snoring through his
lectures and ignoring his advice. Enter Gloria, Napville's new police dog and
Officer Buckle's new partner. She accompanies him when he gives his lecture and
performs her duties with aplomb. Buckle is surprised to see the children so
attentive, but each time he checks on Gloria, she is sitting at attention.
Thanks to the humorous illustrations, readers know what Buckle does not Gloria
is performing to beat the band, acting out the various accidents behind his
back. Things are swell until a news team videotapes Buckle and his amazing
sidekick and he learns that the reason for his newfound popularity is really
Gloria's comedy routine. This sends the officer into quite a slump. Her act is
a complete flop without him, however, and Napville School has its biggest
accident ever after her solo performance. In the end, Buckle realizes that
they're only successful as a team, and he is jolted out of his self-pitying
funk. The vibrant palette of the cartoon art, as well as the amusing story,
make this title an appealing read-aloud choice. Older children will enjoy
poring over the many safety tips presented on the endpapers, all illustrated by
Gloria's antics. A five-star performance. Lisa S. Murphy, formerly at Dauphin
County Library System, Harrisburg, PA (c) Copyright 2010.
Booklist -
(November 01, 1995;
9780399226168)
Ages 4-7. When rotund,
good-natured Officer Buckle visits school assemblies to read off his sensible
safety tips, the children listen, bored and polite, dozing off one by one. But
when the new police dog, Gloria, stands behind him, secretly miming the dire
consequences of acting imprudently, the children suddenly become attentive,
laughing uproariously and applauding loudly. The good policeman is first
gratified with the response, then deflated to learn that Gloria was stealing
the show. Finally, he realizes that he and Gloria make a great team, and they
take their show on the road again, adding a new message, "ALWAYS STICK
WITH YOUR BUDDY!" Like Officer Buckle and Gloria, the deadpan humor of the
text and slapstick wit of the illustrations make a terrific combination. Large,
expressive line drawings illustrate the characters with finesse, and the Kool-Aid-bright
washes add energy and pizzazz. Children will enjoy the many safety-tip notes
tacked up on the endpapers and around the borders of the jacket front. Somehow,
the familiar advice (like "Never leave a bar of soap where someone might
step on it" or "Never tilt your chair back on two legs”) is more
entertaining accompanied by little drawings of Gloria hamming it up. --Carolyn
Phelan
What Do I Do With It?
During a special safety week, students can come up with their own set of tips for safety in the classroom, at home, and in the community!
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