This was such a cute story, and I especially loved the fact that it was based off of a true story! With a story this fun and entertaining, children are sure to love it and consider it a quick favorite! I love that it has such a positive and upbeat message ♥️ The illustrations were absolutely adorable as well!
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I received a complimentary arc of this book from NetGalley. All opinions listed are purely my own.

I just finished Dexter by Bonnie Kelso and Kentee Pasek, and wow, what an unforgettable read! This heartwarming children’s book follows the inspiring journey of a lovable dog who loses a leg but never loses his spirit. I laughed, I cried, and I hugged my own dogs a little tighter. As a proud dog mom of five, this story hit home in the best way possible. Based on a true story, Dexter’s courage and sweetness leap off the page, showing that even life’s biggest challenges can’t keep a good pup down. If you’re searching for your child’s next favorite bedtime story, the kind they’ll beg to hear again and again, Dexter is it. A must-read for dog lovers of all ages!

This is a charming story that introduces children to special needs dogs. As someone who owns three special needs pups and has fostered a three-legged dog, I found the book enjoyable. I appreciate the publisher/author for providing this complimentary advanced copy. The opinions shared in this review are entirely my own.

This was a very sweet book about resilience, hope, and moving forward after a setback. I think it was done tastefully, and in a way that children wouldn't find too scary, but they may find it upsetting. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC! Hello from Colorado, Dexter!

This is the story of Dexter....a dog not unlike yours and mine, but given a new challenge that must be overcome in order to live his best life. With determination, desire, and a healthy dose of puppy stubbornness, Dexter turns what could've been an ending that came way too soon into something inspirational, uplifting, and powerful. Through his Dexter steps, he's lived a life in the public eye that not every fur baby gets the chance to live, but he still knows the real treasure is having a family and home to come to at the end of the day.

A tail (I mean, TALE) filled with love and can do spirit that'll bring a smile to your heart.

Thanks, Netgalley for the arc!

I downloaded this book based on the cover because it was so adorable. Not knowing the real life story of Dexter, I truly was not ready for the emotional whiplash of his story in this book! I read these children's books with my nephew (1.5 years old) in mind and I don't think the illustrations and the immediacy of the event were necessary for depicting the trials Dexter went through to learn to walk again. The story should have started post-accident, in the hospital without the happiness of the adoption process IMMEDIATELY leading to him getting hit by a car.

I was taken aback by the flow and would not pick up this book to read to a small child.

Giving a star for the illustration, but disliked the flow and structure of the story. Dexter himself is a courageous and inspirational pup.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Gnome Road Publishing and the author for the opportunity to read this as an arc!

Dexter: The stand up dog tells the story of Dexter, an adorable internet star, and how his life changed after an unfortunate accident.

This a story of hope, of courage and love. Dexter was just a puppy when he had an accident that left him incapable of using his front legs. After that, we see him work to overcome the obstacles of this new life. Dexter's story is full of important messages, from danger to learning how to overcome obstacles without losing your spirit and with the help of family.

Dexter is a sweet dog who found his forever home, and loved to run around and play. After an accident, he loses one of his front legs and is sad about not being able to move around as quickly. But with determination and his family's support, he finds a way to travel on his hind legs, inadvertently spreading joy in his silly new skill.

The story is simple, but incredibly sweet. A pandemic internet sensation, Dexter's story still resounds regardless of its fame; it teaches us to press on, even when we don't feel capable, and that with support, we can overcome our hurdles. It's a lovely moral both for children and for adults, with the bonus of a cute pet at its center.

Some of the text is a bit hard to read on pages where the illustrations are darker, but it is otherwise a truly wonderful mini escape into Dexter's world that I'd recommend to anyone, whether they are currently struggling or not.

Thanks to NetGalley and Gnome Road Publishing for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Rating: 4 stars

Review posted to StoryGraph: June 7, 2025 (https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/998f49bf-d32c-4ade-8ab1-9f4cf2cf9cd3?redirect=true)

𝗣𝘂𝗯 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: 9/16/25

𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆: A mischievous puppy finds himself in danger and after an unfortunate incident- he finds a way to overcome setbacks.

𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀:
🐶 Easy to read
🐾 Inspiring message
🐶 Colorful illustrations
🐾 Based on a real pet

𝗠𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀: I loved the story of adversity and overcoming obstacles. Presented in a way that is easy to understand for young readers. The messages were excellent; danger can await if one is too impulsive and doesn’t heed parental guidance, and overcoming obstacles is possible with a little thought and effort. Well done.

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️


*Thank you @NetGalley and @GnomeRoadPublishing for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This is a very sweet story that shows resilience and how challenges came be overcome in unexpected ways. The illustrations were beautiful throughout and I enjoyed the pictures included at the end of the real dog from the story. Being that this is based on a real story it makes the book even better.

Such a sweet story of a dog that got into a horrible accident. Dexter seems so cute and such a positive influence. Good for older kids and adults of all ages. Younger kids might be okay, depending on how sensitive they are to animals getting hurt. Five stars!

Thank you to Gnome Road Publishing and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this title. This is a story about perseverance and adaptation from a (real!) lucky dog that really could persist! Dexter is a rescue dog who eventually lost his front legs in an accident and became a wheelie who could also stand up on his back two legs. You may even already know the real Dexter, as he's been seen in some incredible videos online where he's upright walking fantastically.

I think that Dexter's on-page accident would be very scary for very young or very emotional children (like I was) even though it is handled with such care afterward, and is very informative. It was quite unexpected to see depicted, though it's all part of the real dog's journey.

A sweet book about a darling dog. It's a fairly basic plot recounting Dexter's story and how he came to talk in his unusual way. The illustrations were beautiful and leant an emotional tone to the book, although at times the font and colors of the pictures matched too closely and the words disappeared.

Dexter is a legend, and now a children’s book!

I first became aware of Dexter from my social media channels. I believe it was a video of Dexter walking in a parade, like a HUMAN. I quickly followed him and learned of his backstory.

When I saw the opportunity to review this children’s book, I leapt at the chance. Dexter has been a symbol of hope and overcoming insurmountable odds, and the book shares those lessons. But it also shares the lessons of listening to your parents to avoid bad things happening, which is a clever morale added to the storyline.


The illustrations are simply sublime, and the story carefully crafted to its audience, being instructions or while also being inspirational.

My hope is that children all over the world will be as taken with Dexter as I first was, and still am.

This book was my introduction to Dexter the stand up dog. As someone who rescued a 3 legged dog many years ago, this book definitely intrigued me. While parts of the book do seem a little advanced, and possibly scary, for younger readers, I did feel better knowing it was based on a true story. I love that the author showcases Dexter's disability, adaptation, and preserverance with his new reality. I love the illustrations and use of minimal words on each page. Such a cute book overall. I found Dexter on social media and am excited to follow along and learn more about this one of a kind dog!
Thank you to NetGalley & Gnome Road Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

4 stars.

This was a super cute, sweet read. The Pictures were so cute and I loved the message of hope in this book. Dexter is adorable.

Dexter: The Stand Up Dog tells the true story of a joyful pup whose love for running led to a life-changing accident. With the support of his family and an unbreakable spirit, Dexter defied the odds by learning to walk on two legs. This heartwarming tale celebrates resilience, love, and the power of never giving up.

This was such a fun and touching book! I actually remember following this little dog’s journey years ago as it was unfolding, and it was so neat to get even more of the backstory here. Co-authors Bonnie Kelso and Kentee Pasek, along with Kelso’s expressive and vibrant illustrations, have created a beautifully told story of Dexter’s journey. But beyond the fun of a stand-up dog, this is a thoughtful and meaningful story about inclusion and how we can make space for those who are differently abled. It’s a story of perseverance, resilience, and determination in the face of obstacles, shared in a way that’s uplifting and inspiring for young readers. Some of the illustrations even brought tears to my eyes—especially the scene where Dexter visits children with cancer in the hospital.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gnome Road Publishing for the advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own, and I absolutely loved this sweet tail—er, tale.

Bad stuff just happens sometimes. But you've got to keep going. Dexter's story is inspiring and the book itself is very cute. The only thing I didn't like was that the text on darker parts of the page were a little hard to read. Maybe it's because I read it digitally and it will be better in print. A lovely story.

A well written story about a real life dog who has a terrible accident and works hard to overcome his new challenges. I would probably avoid this book with the super littles/ overly sensitive kiddos but would be good for older elementary student.

This was really interesting, and a great story about Dexter's perseverance. The initial pages about his accident were a little shocking for young readers, though. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read!