After reading a couple of K-9 crime stories, this dog story was exactly what I was looking for. Like many young couples, Max's parents get a dog before they had a child and when Max was born, Cosmo was his big brother. They have many adventures together, but things are changing. Mom and dad are fighting, dad is spending the night on the couch and both Max and Cosmo are worried. Max wants to remind his folks of all the great times they've had together dancing and make them forget about the "d" word. He enters Cosmo and himself in a dance Cosmo. Poor Cosmo is getting old and his joints ache, but he can't let Max down. The story is told from the POV of Cosmo, a golden retriever. This is a great middle grade story dealing with an issue that is more common than we would like to admit, divorce. There is a lot of humor in this story and the characters are great. Uncle Reggie is Max's mentor and instructor when it comes to choreographing the dance and practicing it. He is a great character, but Cosmo steals the show. I certainly enjoyed this story, it was fun and reminded me that dogs are more than just pets, they're members of families.

I very much enjoyed this tale of a dog and his boy, Max, and how they try to navigate the trauma's of Max's parents divorce. I fell in love with our narrator, Cosmo, the golden retriever and how he tries to help his boy through the difficult times. Parts of this book are quite funny, and parts are heartbreaking. This is a great book for kids, and adults can get a lot out of this as well.

10 years ago, Cosmo became a big brother to Max. Since then, he knew that it was his job to protect him from suspicious-looking cats, to evil tutu-wearing sheepdogs. Now with dad-scented blankets on the couch and arguments ensuing, Cosmo knows he’s got his work cut out for him with this challenge. Will Cosmo be able to protect Max? A story about a boy and his dog and loyalty, the author does a great job of mixing humor, stubbornness, and innocence. Readers will easily relate to Cosmo and Max. Animal lovers will want to pick this one up.

I, Cosmo is told from the perspective of an older dog who is part of a family who is facing divorce. Max and Cosmo enter a dog dancing competition in hopes of keeping the family together. Parts of the story really move. Some of the descriptions of the dogs dancing getting slow and breaks up the story. A good option for readers who love dogs.

I received this e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This story is told by Cosmo, a 13 year old golden retriever living with his boy Max. Cosmo will do anything for Max, even compete in a canine freestyle competition. Max’s parents are fighting a lot and Max fears that they will get divorced and split up Cosmo and him. If they can win the competition, Max thinks his parents will stay together, thus allowing Cosmo and Max to stay together. Being a senior dog, Cosmo is slowing down, has arthritis, but doesn’t let that stop him from pleasing Max. He pushes through his pain and learns his dance steps, making new friends and avoiding the “evil” sheepdog from the neighborhood.
SPOILER: The dog does not die at the end! This is the main reason for me to read this very heartwarming story! I truly enjoy reading books where the dog is the narrator. Cosmo is easy to love from the start – a typical golden in his behavior and loyalty. My true rating would be 4.5 stars only because I thought the story got bogged down with the dance competition routines. I would definitely recommend this book for grades 4 and up.
#ICosmo #NetGalley

Thank you to Netgally and the author for the arc. *the thoughts are all my own*

This book is so cute, it comes from Cosmos (a dog) point of view. It's cute, funny and heartwarming.

*4.5 stars*

Cosmo is an old dog who really, really loves his family, especially Max. Both Max and Cosmo want everything to stay the same, but change is on the horizon. This middle grade book deals with issues seen frequently in kid lit (specifically divorce), but it feels fresh and heartwarming through the eyes of Cosmo. Although Max and Cosmo steal the show, Uncle Reggie is also a great, three-dimensional character who comes back into the family's lives at exactly the right time.

Most of all, this book reaffirms what most of us already know: dogs are more than just pets, they're true members of the family.

I have a dog named Cosmo, so of course I had to read this book! It was a really sweet story from the dog’s perspective as his family goes through a difficult time. I loved that you could really get a feel for Cosmo’s personality and he was just too cute and funny. There were times the story took a sad turn both from the dog’s perspective and his family’s. The constant reminder of Cosmo’s age was also heartbreaking, but he was so strong and determined to be there for the people he loved and who loved him. Highly recommend!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3140927392

I was able to get my hands on an early copy of this adorable book and my 8yo daughter immediately grabbed it and ran. She LOVED it.

The voice (the story is told from Cosmo the dog's perspective) is wonderfully funny and charming. The book touches on divorce and finding unexpected friends. The ending is really touching--my daughter was fighting back a few tears.

Highly recommend for your MG readers and dog lovers of any age.

Absolutely fantastic! I know this was intended for the middle grade audience, but I adored the story — laughing out loud and tearing up throughout. Cosmo is an older golden retriever and he’s the one who narrates this story. His boy, Max, is struggling with the realization that his mom and dad aren’t getting along and they might eventually split up. So Cosmo feels it’s his responsibility to hold the family together. The story comes at this topic from a unique position, showcasing how divorce impacts everyone (including our beloved pets). I love how expressive Cosmo is and how he reads and interprets common human actions. I’ll admit that I was nervous because Cosmo is getting up there in age, but this story has a happy ending and will soon be a favorite in children’s and middle grade libraries. I also appreciated the note at the very end, encouraging readers to first look at shelters and rescues when they want to adopt a dog. I highly recommend! My thanks to NetGalley, Carlie Sorosiak, and Candlewick Press for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest response.

I absolutely loved this book. I haven't laughed out loud this much when reading since Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus. I tried to read a few passages out loud to my kids but I was laughing so hard I couldn't really read. However, there are also some really sad parts, and there is definitely some deeper stuff going on, too. Cosmo takes his role as big brother to Max and Emmaline very seriously, so when Mom and Dad start fighting he feels it's his duty to help Max in his plans to keep the family together. Along the way, Cosmo does some pretty brave doggy things, but also some pretty typical doggy things, and his descriptions and observations are hilarious.

Cosmo is a golden retriever and he is the narrator in this book. He tells his story of trying to keep his family together as his boy, Max, deals with his parents’ impending divorce and the fear of getting separated from one another.

I laughed and cried reading this book. First a non spoiler spoiler (if that makes any sense), Cosmo does NOT die in the book, so you can read without fear of a super sad ending. In fact, the book does end well. That being said, I did cry at times, maybe because my adult heart felt the tension in Cosmo’s narration at the fear of being split from Max in case of a separation of the parents. The book is written simply enough for a middle grader to enjoy it but I know any and all adult dog lover will just love it. I know I did. The relation between Max is Cosmo is so sweet. A boy and his dog they say...

To me this a recommended read for dog lovers of all age!

3.5 This book needs to come with a warning on the front page that there is No Dog Death. I spent the entire book dreading what I assumed to be coming based on the premise of the book.

Cosmo is a golden retriever getting on in years who loves his human family dearly. Unfortunately, the parents in that family are having problems. Cosmo knows that he is supposed to protect ten year old Max. As a distraction Max's uncle brings them both to a dog training studio that offers dog dancing class. Max and Cosmo enter a competition with Max hoping that when they win his parents will stay together. The problem is, that Cosmo is an old dog and physically isn't as spry as he once was.
Here, of course, is where I worried that we were on course for dog death.
Thankfully, that is not what this book is about but I, a dog lover, wish I had known this from the get go as I would have enjoyed what this book is so much more.
Sorosiak has put together a realistic story about a family going through the painful reality of separation. It is told from the dog's perspective which is a beautiful technique here that allows the dog to identify the confusing feelings of the situation in a way that would help a child reading this make sense of their own emotions. The plot is not the focus here, rather the internal thoughts of Cosmo as he comes to terms with the way that things change and how Max is affected through all of it. Cosmo's story highlights how despite complications, shifts, and even endings, a family is still connected.

I, Cosmo, was a cute story written in the dogs perspective. Being a dog owner myself, I always wonder what they think and how they must be feeling. I think Sorosiak did a wonderful job with staying in the perspective of the dog. The dog and the family characters in the novel we wonderfully warm and welcoming. I can see how it wouldn't be a novel for anyone, but think that anyone who loves, or loved a dog at one time would adore this storyline.

Loved it! Rather, I loved Cosmo. Such a refreshing narrative take on a common theme, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Truly makes you think more about what your dogs may be thinking. As with many Golden Retrievers, Cosmo is fiercely loyal to his humans and the possibility of upset to their world, upsets him. I highly recommend this quick and easy read for any dog lover or just as a really cute book from a dogs perspective.
I was given an ARC in exchange for my review.

Come meet Cosmo and his family. This is a heartwarming story told from a dog's point of view. If you love a good dog story, you don't want to miss this book. I really enjoyed it. Thank you Candlewick Press Walker Books US via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Short but excellent book for any dog lover! Unlike the majority of dog books, this one does NOT have a tear jerk ending. :)

Highly recommend for middle school aged and up.

*Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A good option for middle-grade readers who love dogs and stories from an animal's POV but prefer realistic stories to fantasies.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

As the oldest member of the Walker family, Cosmo saw it as his duty to protect them and look out for them. When his boy, Max, began stressing about all his parents fighting and his fear that a divorce would separate them, Cosmo dedicated himself to Max's plan, which was to win a dance competition, and hopefully prove that Cosmo and Max belonged together.

From the very first page, I fell in love with Cosmo. He charmed the pants off of me with his witty observations and obvious love for his family. This was a dog, who had watched over his family for over 13 years, and how could I not adore a dog with that much dedication?

It was quite a treat being in his head, and I must commend Sorosiak for all the things she injected into his stream of consciousness. Those little things, which seemed more dog-like never failed to delight me. His musings about talking cats and talking dogs was hilarious.

But, do you know what really made me smile? Dancing dogs! Yes, friends, Max and Cosmo trained for a dance competition, and I loved hearing about all the tricks and all the dancers Cosmo admired. The way he waxed poetic about Singing in the Rain and Grease tickled me, and I totally went searching YouTube in search of amazing canine dancers.

As sweet and humorous as this book was, it did feature a marriage that was crumbling, and I will admit, there were tears. It was sad to watch a family go through this, but I feel like this could be a meaningful read for someone in the target audience, who is experiencing the same thing.

Overall, I had a lovely time getting to know Cosmo and the Walker family. This was such a wonderful love letter to those pets, who made our lives better, who gave us comfort when we needed it, who loved us unconditionally, and who will always have a place in our hearts.

Thank you to NetGalley and Candlewick Press for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Description
A golden retriever narrates a hilarious, heart-tugging tale of a dog and his humans as he tries to keep his family together while everything around them falls apart.

Ever since Cosmo became a big brother to Max ten years ago, he’s known what his job was: to protect his boy and make him happy. Through many good years marked by tennis balls and pilfered turkey, torn-up toilet paper and fragrant goose poop, Cosmo has doggedly kept his vow. Until recently, his biggest problems were the evil tutu-wearing sheepdog he met on Halloween and the arthritis in his own joints. But now, with Dad-scented blankets appearing on the couch and arguing voices getting louder, Cosmo senses a tougher challenge ahead. When Max gets a crazy idea to teach them both a dance routine for a contest, how can Cosmo refuse, stiff hips or no? Max wants to remind his folks of all the great times they’ve had together dancing — and make them forget about the “d” word that’s making them all cry. Told in the open, optimistic, unintentionally humorous voice of a golden retriever, I, Cosmo will grab readers from the first page — and remind them that love and loyalty transcend whatever life throws your way.

Cosmo is a 13 year old family golden retriever who was brought into the family just before his 'little' brother Max was born. He vowed to take care of him and his family. Cosmo senses that something is up when he smells 'Dad-scent' on the sofa and he does his very best to unite the family and bring them to a place where they use to be.

This is a heartwarming tale of true love told in the narrative of Cosmo. It was brilliantly written.