Liberty: A Dog with a Job is a cute educational story written by Terri Kelley. Jovie is excited to go camping with her mother and cousin near the lake. They have fun swimming and fishing, and Jovie’s chore is wood collecting for the fire. She decides to collect wood late one night without telling anyone, and gets lost in the woods. Jovie is scared, especially when her flashlight stops working. She wanders deeper into the dark woods and falls asleep under a tree. When morning comes, Jovie hear noises in the bushes and thinks it’s a bear. Fortunately, it turns out to be Liberty, a search and rescue dog. Liberty is owned by her grandparents who are first responders, and Jovie learns how important Liberty and other dogs are to rescue missions when people go missing. It’s not only kids who will learn about the roles of first responders and search and rescue operations, but also adults. I found Liberty: A Dog with a Job well written and informative about the active roles dogs play, and my respect for them have deepened. First responders risk their lives to find persons who are missing in the woods and mountains, and this includes tragic events. It is definitely not an easy job to do. This very short book contains a good story, colorful illustrations and photos of the real Liberty and her family. There is also a subtle message contained about the dangers of wandering alone without telling others. I gladly recommend this charming book.
