One for the Dogs: A Graphic Novel

Gr 4-6–Junior high student Resa and her three business-savvy friends visit Resa’s Abuela in Brooklyn. Abuela takes them sight-seeing but trips and sprains her ankle getting home. The girls kick it into high gear to take care of Abuela but Resa somehow feels left out, until she begins working at Abuela’s boutique. There, Resa meets two girls who want to start a dog bandana business, and unable to resist helping, lends them store money. She tries to give them advice but they won’t listen and fail miserably. Resa fears never getting the money back, but the next day, the two girls sheepishly return asking for help. Resa accepts and teams up with her friends to make the latest version of “Barkin’ Bandanas” is a success. The girls are depicted realistically in their manner and emotional responses. The panels follow the action well with plenty of emotional reaction details. The multicultural girls bring a positive attitude to tackling the world of entrepreneurship. The friends and family story threads keep the book from feeling like a manual. The blending of business tenants with real life problems make this a compelling read. Resa and her Abuela are Latine, the other girls are portrayed with a variety of skin tones.