Frank and Lucky Get Schooled, written by Lynne Rae Perkins, reviewed by Bethany Bratney

Summary: Frank and Lucky Get Schooled is a sweet book that combines the love between a boy and his dog with elementary explanations of a number of cross-discipline ideas that Frank and Lucky learn together out in the world. They learn about Botany and Entomology when Lucky runs through woods and brush and his fur becomes entangled with various natural objects. They learn about Fractions and Percentages throughout the night as they determine which part of the bed is Frank’s and which part is Lucky’s. (It changes throughout the night.) They practice Reading together because Lucky is the best listener, and can even listen when Frank isn’t reading aloud. They learn about Geography and World Languages when they are out exploring and meeting new people. Lucky excels at Making Introductions and Hospitality. But the most important thing that Frank and Lucky learn is that they like learning best when they can do it together. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: Frank and Lucky is an adorable book about the special relationship that can form between a child and a pet. It’s lovely in its message of love and acceptance, and also in the fun and natural way that it introduces basic school concepts as components of Frank and Lucky’s play time together. They are paired as partners finding understanding by exploring the world around them, which is a beautiful way to promote a love of learning in children. The bright watercolor and ink illustrations are vibrant and capture the full-color spirit of Frank and Lucky’s exploratory studies. Frequent thought and dialogue bubbles are included throughout the book to capture the character’s thoughts and attitudes about their activities, giving readers an even more detailed understanding of the multi-layered and powerful nature of Frank and Lucky’s relationship. These small asides also provide a great deal of humor, which only adds further enjoyment to the story. Animal books are always popular with young children, as are stories that incorporate the fun of learning. Frank and Lucky Ge