I’m a sucker for feel-good stories and when you add in the dog, this was a no-brainer. I loved the story of Dexter, a typical puppy, full of energy and inquisitive to a fault, who learns to overcome his loss of a leg by walking upright. He finds a way to adapt to his new normal and becomes a celebrity while doing it. The illustrations were beautiful and conveyed his personality well. This is a good book to show children that you can overcome obstacles with ingenuity and resilience.

I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.

This is an inspiring story about a dog overcoming a difficult injury through perseverance and determination. Given the danger and use of phones/social media, it’s perhaps most appropriate for kids age 6-8. I found the introduction of COVID/lockdown to be abrupt - there could be a better set up for this. The text alternates from black/white and is difficult to read at times.

This book was so cute. I read it to my son and we eventually looked up videos of Dexter after. He thought it was so funny that a dog would walk on his hind legs. This book is so sweet and highlights that sometimes your imperfections are what make you perfect!

Dexter: The Stand Up Dog is an absolute gem. It's heartwarming, beautifully and expressively illustrated, and packed with inspiration. Dexter’s real-life journey from injury to walking upright on two legs is nothing short of amazing, and the book captures his spirit with charm and joy. The vibrant, playful art adds so much personality, making each page a delight. It’s a powerful reminder that with resilience and a positive attitude, anything is possible. So genuinely charming and I think it's perfect for young readers!

*Thank you to Gnome Road Publishing for the advanced eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I think this book has a cute premise, and it's neat that he went viral, but I don't know about its staying power for readers to want to turn back to or for teachers to reuse in the classroom. I think that many children dream of using videos to go viral, and this encourages the idea, but with no real ending or resolution.

I like Dexter, the illustrations, and the writing, but something about the book was a miss for me.

I would encourage the publisher to use white type when black text is set against a dark background, as a way to make the book more accessible for readers.

That was so good!
My son was crying but then so happy by the end of the book. He said he wants to have his own Dexter. I immediately showed him Dexter's Instagram account, and now he wants to meet Dexter. What a trouble because we are not living in the US!
The story was so inspiring. I told my son that even Dexter didn't give up when he faced difficulties, so we could be a Dexter too. I believe he understands, and he would grow into a strong one, like Dexter.

Thank you to Bonnie Kelso, Kentee Pasek, Gnome Road Publishing, and NetGalley for the ARC.

Love this book. I had seen Dexter before and loved seeing his story in an easy-to-read manner for kids. The message is wonderful. Parts of it are sad and scary to my kid but it also teaches a good lesson in determination and perseverance but also great teaching moments for teaching about safety for ourselves and our animals! I want to recommend this book to our local animal rescue to have on hand for families when they get in the animals that are overcoming obstacles.

Dexter The Stand-up Dog is a heartwarming story about a dog who loses a leg and his determination to overcome new challenges in his life. I thought it was a cute story with adorable illustrations. I think it could have benefited from one more page of conflict/hardship within Dexter to really drive home the message of perseverance through difficult times. Regardless, I think it's a great message for kids.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gnome Road Publishing for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

When Dexter was a puppy, he had to have one of his legs amputated after a car accident, but that didn't stop him from getting wherever he wanted, even if he had to get there by standing up. He became a social media sensations and visited many wonderful places to share joy and inspiration.

Who doesn't love a story about a dog being clever and cute? This book feels commemorative more than narrative, but it's still a lot of fun. I appreciate that it doesn't harp too much on the inspirational aspect of Dexter's disability. The illustrations are fun. I suspect this story will bring many smiles to readers.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I loved the illustration. It was such an adorable heartwarming book. It was a quick read, but the story will stay with you. Dexter is such an inspiration. My daughter would love this book.

Omg I love dogs and this book was so cute! I did not know who Dexter was until I read this book and saw the info in the back. This is such a great story about overcoming struggles. It would be great for any kid who loves dogs or has struggles of their own.

I loved how beautiful the drawings were and how some drawings were on multiple pages. I felt like that really made me want to go and see what was going to happen next. I loved how the drawings reflected different periods of time and seasons. I also think kids will love the drawings in this book because of how exciting they are.

The writing was perfect. It explained everything well and had good foreshadowing. I like how this book does not focus too much on the accident part of what happened to Dexter and instead focused on Dexter's recovery. I highly recommend this book to any family who loves dogs.

Adorable picture book for elementary age kids. It is about a dog that hurts in a car accident but learns to find a new way to walk and thrive after losing a front leg. As a dog owner, I was surprised about the dog's injury, but the book focuses on how the owner and Dexter find ways to move past the potentially devastating lose of a limb. Dexter learned to walk on his back legs and his owner spread his joy with the world through social media. I think this would be a great book for families that have a pet with an injury or limb loss to see how Dexter handles his new life. It could possibly be good for children with similar injuries to see that it is possible to find happiness in new and different ways.
#Dexter #NetGalley
Thank you Net Galley for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Just read Dexter: The Stand-Up Dog to my kids and I’m obsessed 🐶❤️ This isn’t just a sweet picture book, it’s based on a REAL dog named Dexter who learned to walk on two legs after an accident. It’s the most inspiring, feel-good story about resilience, love, and never giving up, even when life gets tough. The illustrations are adorable, and knowing it’s all true makes it hit even harder. Perfect for kids AND grown-ups who need a little reminder to keep going. 💪 #DexterTheStandUpDog #PictureBooks #TrueStory #DogLovers #BookReview

This is the story of Dexter, the 3-legged stand up dog that capture many hearts during the Pandemic. A sweet story with even sweeter illustrations. An inspiring book for kids who need a boost of can-do attitude!

Thank you to Gnome Road Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

“The Dog Who Stood Up and Kept Going”

Dexter, The Stand Up Dog, reminds us that what happened to us doesn’t have to define us. Dexter, an upright walking three-legged Britanny Spaniel – shares his heartwarming journey from rescued dog to influencer. After a sudden major accident that left him with only one front leg, Dexter shocked everyone, including his dog’s mom – by teaching himself to walk upright on his two back legs. His stand-up walking style amazed many people in his hometown, Colorado, and gained even more attention after his videos were shared on Instagram platform. His positivity has touched hearts across the country and helped him reclaim his joy.

I appreciated how the illustrations perfectly capture Dexter’s personality – playful, determined, and full of heart. It’s a great read for preschoolers and early elementary kids, offering a gentle but powerful message about resilience. I’d love to see more books about Dexter’s adventures around the country. This one reminds us how much we can learn from our humans’ best friends.

Thank you Netgalley and Gnome Road Publishing for the e-ARC. I truly appreciate it

Lovely story with lovely illustrations.

However I get help but remember that sometimes people train their dogs to walk on two hind legs and that it can be harmful for them? I don't know if that's the case for Dexter however.

This is a simple, happy book about a viral sensation of a dog and the way in which his story has encouraged others around him. I wasn't familiar with Dexter's videos before reading this book so I went and researched them on my own, and can understand their appeal. Dexter's attitude throughout his experience shows his attitude and his determination. He doesn't think about what he can no longer do because of his accident; instead, he's focused on what he CAN do, trying to enjoy his life to the fullest as he comes back home with his family. Although they may not have realized it at the time, he was an aptly-named pup because "Dexter" means "skilled."

The family's love and care for Dexter throughout his accident and recovery send a sweet message, as do the way that they encourage him as he starts walking about on his hind legs. However, the book glosses over the very real danger that he was in and the likely worry that it caused in order to get to the feel-good parts about his unexpected fame, which affects the overall story. The reader sees him in the hospital and then sees him at home, with some notes about how it was difficult but no further description of his recovery and therapy process, things that were necessary for his further development. Seeing these details, along with those about the changes that the family made around the house in order for Dexter to be more comfortable, would have added weight to to the story for young readers. By understanding the full scope of what Dexter had to overcome, including adapting to the challenges that remain, children would get a realistic understanding of what it's like to have a pet with a disability. The happy stuff is important, but the reality of the journey to get there is, too.

(As a side note, it's interesting to think about, on a meta level, people and animals who have become big hits in the digital world as the subject for children's books, but it makes complete sense in context.)


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Gnome Road Publishing, for this DRC in exchange for a fair and honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

This was a cute story of overcoming adversity, resilience and perseverance. I was intrigued that it was based on a true story and my kids and I enjoyed the storytelling. The illustrations were also very nice, colorful, had movement! and told a story themselves.

The only thing that didn’t work for me was there were several pages where the text was black against a dark background color making it extremely difficult to read. It would have been a much more pleasant and seamless experience if those pages had white or light colored text against the dark background.

A heartwarming story about thriving despite injury and disability in a form of a story about a dog who lost a leg after being hit by a car, but then learned to walk just on his hind legs, and became an inspiration for everyone who witnessed his resilience and enthusiasm.

However, I feel like the art could use some improvements especially with composition: some images look overly busy while others have too much blank space. The writing also feels stilted, as if it couldn't decide is it supposed to be conversational, or an attempt at rhyming.

This book was SO cute! It showed overcoming adversity and how important a dog is to a family. I think this is a great way to show how to find the positive in bad things that happen.