Dingle: The Helpful Ice Cream Cone Delivery Dog
by Audrey Kinsella

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Description

Dingle...a dog who really wants to help, what a switch! Join him on his journey to get his ideas on the table, the outdoor ice cream cone stand table one very hot summer day.

We're happy to announce great reviews about the really good work of a very helpful pet dog, Dingle. Here are some selections:

Grady Harp, MD, provided a 5-star review on Amazon.com

This is a very fine children's book from an author with a sensitive approach to the world of children's literature, guiding children to notice and appreciate disabled people in a very positive light.

From PK Reeves, a young mother from Longueuil, Quebec Canada, in her children's books blog:

Easy to follow and nicely illustrated to show that accepting help from those who care is more important than scoffing the uselessness of "services" available to people living with a disability.

It is not to showcase the "inability" rather the "strength of unity" to help each other as family and friends, period.

From Amazon.com Top Reviewer Grady Harp (retired MD) in L.A.:

July 29, 2010 review posted on Amazon.com

A Warmly Entertaining Book with a Significant Message, July 25, 2010

DINGLE: THE HELPFUL ICE CREAM CONE DELIVERY DOG may on the surface seem like a just another pert and reader-friendly book for children. That is until the background of author Audrey Kinsella is reviewed. Before coming to children's stories she has been a significant contributor as a librarian, a writer of articles on healthcare, and books on telecommunications, the elderly and the disabled. With such a background of compassionate service it comes as no surprise that this little book is much more than the delightful surface indicates.

Dingle is just an ordinary devoted dog belonging to a senior, wheelchair bound Aunt Reeny - a woman who does not see her disability as a cloud but instead insists that she can get along very well without copious aid from her family - 'everything just takes a little longer'. Dingle overhears her statement that Aunt Reeny sees no need for a 'service dog' and that ignites a spark in Dingle's imagination. Primarily because of Aunt Reeny's atmosphere of personal autonomy, Dingle sets out to find a way to make Aunt Reeny's life easier, and consults a dog friend Rex who wears a saddlebag to carry bottled water for the man who walks him. Dingle takes up the idea, gathers the necessary implements and with the help of Aunt Reeny's college student nephew Roddy, designs a version of a saddlebag that will carry something special for Aunt Reeny - something she may not 'need' but that will bring her happiness. And the next very hot day Aunt Reeny and her family decide they need a trip to Ice Cream Dreams for refreshment and relief from the heat. But the trip in the wheelchair and the heat slow Aunt Reeny down and she must take a rest. But something new happens: enter Roddy and Dingle with a saddle bag filled with cooling ice cream cones - an unexpected but cherished gift for Aunt Reeny - and a fine source of pride for the thoughtful 'service dog' Dingle.

Kinsella writes well and adds something to the format of this book that will help both children and reader alike: the story related in the usual 'comic book clouds' coming from each character is repeated in larger print in a box at the bottom of each page. The illustrations by Susan Anderson-Shorter are charming and make the story easily visible to the youngest reader. This is a very fine children's book form an author with a sensitive approach to the world of children's literature, guiding children to notice and appreciate disabled people in a very positive light. There hopefully will be more books by this unique author! Grady Harp, July 10

From Simon Barrett, writer and editor of BloggerNews and, Internet interviewer on blogtalkradio ...

Posted on August 11th, 2010
by Simon Barrett in www.bloggernew.net/125048

People that know me, know that I am very passionate about books aimed at young readers. A well produced book will pass on the love of the written word to a new generation. In fact one of these days I plan on writing a book about how to write books for young children!

It was my wife Jan that first heard about Dingle, "here is one you will like" she knowingly said. I read the press release, and I was hooked. I had to get my hands on this one!
What I found in Dingle was an approach that I had never seen employed before. Audrey Kinsella has created a truly unique experience in a scant 20 pages. The normal challenge in a child's book is to maintain that delicate balance between education and entertainment. Audrey Kinsella has taken this in a new direction, why limit the education to just the young? Regardless of your age there are always new things to learn.

In Dingle we learn that knowledge is not a one way street running from old to young, rather it is potentially a wonderful two way transition if you open your heart and mind.
I had the opportunity to talk to Audrey Kinsella prior to reading Dingle, it was an eye opening conversation. Her background includes many years in the telecommunications world, as well as working with people with disabilities, and the elderly. She has written books, and many articles on these subjects, but Dingle is her first foray into the children's world.

An often used cliche is that a picture is worth a thousand words. That is so true in Dingle, there are few words, yet every picture does tell a story. Susan Anderson-Shorter has done an excellent job on the illustrations. They are crisp and a simple color palette has been used.

The actual storyline is a curious one, we get to meet wheelchair bound Aunt Reeny who insists that there is nothing that she can not do:

Service dogs. Nice idea - for some

Her pet dog Dingle has other ideas. Dingle's friend Rex offers advice and equipment. Dingle does not want to be a run of the mill service dog, rather one with a unique talent, The Helpful Ice Cream Cone Delivery Dog.

I see Dingle as a great teaching tool. While the story line is simple, every page offers openings into learning situations through discussion. I could also see this book in a classroom setting, it is almost perfect for a number of group activities.

I would like to see Audrey Kinsella take Dingle one step further. She should produce a 'cheat sheet' for parents and teachers. A list of conversation points as the book is being read.

For a number of years I was involved in adult education, very often working with very low literacy levels. This experience has rubbed off on me and as a result I tend to look at aspects of a book that others might not. I am a huge fan of fonts. The style and shape of characters makes a huge difference in the understandability of text. Clearly Audrey Kinsella shares my concern, she has opted to use two fonts, the cartoon like bubbles are a variation on Comic Sans, a well rounded, friendly and easy font to understand. A font that a young learner should have few problems with. The text on each page is repeated in a larger print size at the bottom of the page. This is a great idea, with young readers 'size does matter'.

I like Dingle a great deal, it has been carefully crafted, and is the work of an author that has a very clear understanding of the message she is trying to convey.
Generally I am a hoarder of books, once I get my hands on one it is stuck with me for life. In the case of Dingle I am going to make an exception, it is too good not to share. My wife has a cousin with a granddaughter who loves books, maybe the term reading is a little premature, but she does sound out the words. I am going to make sure that she gets to enjoy Dingle.

And one, deservedly, focused more on Dingle than the author, from Charles Ashbacher, editor of technology journals and Top Reviewer at Amazon.com, who notes that Dingle works toward becoming his own "special type of service dog":

5.0 out of 5 stars

My daughter would have loved it, July 24, 2010

Children that adore dogs will love this book. Dingle is a pleasant dog, owned by an elderly woman confined to a wheelchair, he considers himself underutilized. His owner feels that she can do everything she needs to do, so there is no need for a service dog. However, Dingle doesn't conform to that point of view, he wants to find something that he can do besides being a "good dog."

Fortunately, he encounters a dog that is wearing a harness that contains drinks and snacks for his walker and himself. This gives Dingle an idea and with the help of a young man back from college, a similar harness is constructed that will allow Dingle to carry things. The harness works to perfection and now Dingle can be his own special type of service dog.

When I examine books for children, I always ask myself if my daughter would have enjoyed it when she was young. I read hundreds of books to her when she was an infant, some of them more times that I like to remember. This is one that she would have loved, even though she was not fond of dogs. The illustrations are done with "mild colors", something that I prefer in children's books. In my experience, gaudy colors tend to overwhelm the visual sense of a child.

And two more, particularly aimed at children!

Reviewed by Ami Blackwelder, of Reviewer's Desk, posted on Amazon.com, July 25, 2010
5.0 out of 5 stars Everyone can be helpful!,

Dingle the Dog teaches kids that even if others don't think they need your help or want your help, that everyone can help! A great message for youths and this book is a good read at home or at school, for teachers, mothers, and fathers. I enjoy the art illustrations and the story is easy to follow, with fun bubbles above the characters to read along as well as on the bottom of each page!

A fun story with a message.

Dog lovers will also love this story and I hope others get a chance to pick this up and read it!

A Dog tale with a great message!

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A yet one more that includes high points for the author, Dingle, and our message...

From a blog by PK Reeves, living in Longueuil, Quebec Canada

Dingle is on a mission to prove that he can be more that just the average dog that needs petting and walks. He wants to surprise wheelchair bound Aunt Reeny with his clever invention and enlists the help of Rex- the dog and Roddy, Aunt Reeny's nephew.

United in their determination, Aunt Reeny accepts help and they surprise her with a tasty treat during a hot scorching summer day.

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Audrey Kinsella's illustrated book Dingle - the Helpful Ice Cream Cone Delivery Dog has been repossessed by my five year old son permanently.

We read this together and he laughed at Dingle's ingenious thinking for the ice cream pouch. Easy to follow and nicely illustrated to show that accepting help from those who care is more important than scoffing the uselessness of "services" available to people living with a disability.

It is not to showcase the "inability" rather the "strength of unity" to help each other as family and friends, period.

Must run now since my son wants to read this book for yet another umpteenth time... Going to have to get Dingle to read to him or have the wee one read to me next.