A Place for Grace

From Publishers WeeklyThis pooch is in disgrace. Poor Grace's dreams of becoming a seeing-eye dog have been rudely squelched: she's too small. Expelled from training school, she saves a boy who darts out into the path of an oncoming fire engine and is promptly collared for the Hearing Dog program. This time her size is an asset, as hearing dogs must be able to spring lightly into the air to alert their deaf owners to sounds. But Grace mixes up the microwave beep with the doorbell and completely flunks Wake Up class (she jumps on the bed and goes to sleep at the sound of the alarm clock). Determined to help her graduate, her new owner cleverly personalizes her training and "snooze-alarm Grace" finally succeeds in becoming an official hearing dog. On one level, Okimoto's brisk and buoyant tale is a valuable lesson in the rewards of hard work and persistence; on another, it deals matter-of-factly with some of the hurdles facing the hearing-impaired, and introduces young readers to American Sign Language (the alphabet for which is detailed on the endpapers). Keith's droll illustrations blend fanciful and realistic touches to make the most of a sprightly four-footed heroine. Ages 4-up.Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.Book DescriptionGrace is a little dog with big dreams. After discovering she's too small to become a seeing-eye dog, she meets Charlie, a deaf man who believes Grace would make the ideal hearing-aid dog. Grace provides an inspiring model for any child facing obstacles at school or at home. It can also help children appreciate people with disabilities and give readers the opportunity to learn the American Sign Language alphabet.


Genre: Children's Fiction