*****Officer Buckle and Gloria

by Peggy Rathman

Reviewed September 2, 2003.
G. P. Putnam’s Sons, New York, 1995.  32 pages.
Winner of the 1996 Caldecott Medal.
$11.89 in hardcover on Amazon.com
Available at Sembach Library (E RAT).
A Sonderbooks’ Stand-out of 2003:  #6, New Picture Books

This book makes me think of Valerie Meyer, our former librarian.  It was one of her favorites, and she told me the whole story.  We were finally able to get it at Sembach Library.  When I read it for myself, I was equally delighted.

Officer Buckle collects safety tips.  He has more than 77.  He goes to schools and reads them to children, but the children have trouble staying awake.

Then Officer Buckle gets a buddy, a police dog named Gloria.  Now, while Officer Buckle reads the safety tips, Gloria acts out the accidents behind his back.  Suddenly, his speeches are a huge hit.

Officer Buckle enjoys his newfound success without ever realizing how much Gloria is helping.  After he has spoken to 313 schools, one day he sees his speech on the news and discovers all.  At first he’s hurt, but soon he learns that Gloria can’t perform without him, either.  He finishes up by learning one more safety tip:  “Always stick with your buddy!”

After I posted this review, Valerie Meyer sent in her rating of 5 stars.  She commented:
"Can you believe that they did not have this book in Troy, IL either?  It was one of my first purchases for the library and it is still one of my all-time favorites.  If you like Officer Buckle and Gloria and Click Clack Moo Cows that Type, read Giggle Giggle Quack; the sequel to Click Clack Moo! "

I agree!

Copyright © 2003 Sondra Eklund.  All rights reserved.

-top of page-