Corky Tails: Tales of a Tailless Dog Named Sagebrush
Sagebrush and the Butterfly Creek Flood
In Franks’s latest book, young children learn little bits of how to keep the planet safe from destruction through the eyes of a small corgi dog.
In Joni Franks’s latest installment of Corky Tails: Tales of a Tailless Dog Named Sagebrush, the importance of working together to take care of the earth and other beings is at the fore.
The series features a small Welsh corgi dog as its title character. She and her parents live on a cattle ranch owned by Young Miss. The Shuns are little people who reside in the tree hollows, living in constant fear of the tree-cutting machines. Acorn the Shun and his family find themselves in massive danger due to an avalanche of trees, mud, and rocks. At the same time, Mr. Hiker Man is also in dire need of help in the same area. Little Sagebrush, her parents, and Young Miss work together to try to save all those in need.
Beautiful and descriptive language—“aspen leaves quaked” and “carpet of gold on the earth”—elevates the story, bringing the majestic Rocky Mountain setting to life. Combined with Raquel Rodriguez’s colorful illustrations, this descriptive language makes it easy to picture what is happening. This is especially helpful because each page has substantial text.
Even though it’s considered a picture book, heavy overarching themes are at its core. Some, such as being kind and working together, are easier to understand at this age. However, the environmental message is made far more appealing by Franks’s use of the adorable tailless corgi. In the end, it is Sage’s unbreakable bond with the Young Miss that always helps the Shuns, proving that anyone, no matter how big or small, can make a difference in the world.
In Corky Tails: Tales of a Tailless Dog Named Sagebrush: Sagebrush and the Butterfly Creek Flood, young children learn little bits of how to keep the planet safe from destruction through the eyes of a small corgi dog.
Reviewed by
Kelly Thunstrom
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book and paid a small fee to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. Foreword Reviews and Clarion Reviews make no guarantee that the publisher will receive a positive review. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
