The Adventures of Connor and Sparky by David Armitage
This review first appeared on Reader Views Kids. Read the Reader Views Kids version here.
Connor, like many kids, is struggling because world events are isolating him from much of what he used to love. His parents try many things to cheer him up, but they only seem to work temporarily. Determined to find a longer-lasting solution, Connor’s parents let him pick out a puppy to take home. Connor locks eyes with Sparky and the two grow to become best friends. As Sparky grows, he is able to snuggle Connor as he sleeps and even share in Connor’s fantastical dreams. One night, the two embark on a journey through space featuring a surprising chocolate bar, a race, and slime. When the two awaken not only are they well rested, but they are happy.
The Adventures of Connor and Sparky by David Armitage is a delightful tale that works best as a bedtime story for children. While a little longer than some bedtime stories, its content is perfect for whisking a child away into a dream world since the most dynamic portions take place in a dream. However, The Adventures of Connor and Sparky is more than a bedtime story.
A particular highlight of The Adventures of Connor and Sparky is how it addresses the ways news can affect children. It does a good job of being relatable to kids who may have struggled during the lockdown associated with COVID-19 or other world events that have affected them. It lets a child reading the book (or hearing it) know they are not alone and that it is okay to struggle when things get tough—it doesn’t mean being sad will last forever.
Author and illustrator David Armitage has a distinct artistic style. Armitage’s illustrations are quite cute and charming. The style works quite well for the intended audience of young readers. Armitage’s flexibility in being able to draw different portions of the story (some of which are based on Earth and some of which are in dreamland space) is to be admired.
David Armitage’s The Adventures of Connor and Sparky is a creative bedtime tale that manages to both ground readers in reality and easily relatable feelings as well as carry them into fantastical dream elements and a space race.
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