Tricky

by Kari Rust

Overview

The Duke and his dog, Tricky, spend their days making trouble. They cheat, steal, and play cruel-hearted pranks on their neighbors, just for fun. But one day, somebody new comes to town and gives Tricky a treat that melts his mischievous heart — and sets him thinking about the effect his actions have on others.

Inspired to change his ways, Tricky decides to set things right the only way he knows how… with tricks! Tricky’s ploy might just lead The Duke to reconsider his ways. Stylized cartoon-inspired art adds a distinctive mood and humor to this fun debut picture book about empathy, revenge, and reform.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781771472524
Publisher:	OWLKIDS BOOKS
Publication date:	10/15/2017
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	10.20(w) x 8.10(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	AD760L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

KARI RUST is a debut book author/illustrator with a background in character animation and design. Her hand-drawn, limited palette, digitally-colored images are full of warmth, style, and humor. A graduate of Emily Carr Universityof Art and Design, Kari lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Editorial Reviews

08/14/2017
A rascally man nicknamed the Duke and his dog, Tricky, are up to no good. The lanky Duke is dressed like a silent-film villain in a pin-striped suit and a jet-black moustache; Tricky is a lean, scrappy hound. Together, they steal fruit and trip innocent pedestrians. Worse, they go home and laugh about it. But when Ms. Paisley, a baker who’s new in town, gives Tricky a tasty treat, a warm smile, and a friendly pat—Rust paints Ms. Paisley with a round, brown, kind face, a clearly welcoming presence—Tricky experiences true goodness for the first time. The Duke plays a trick on Ms. Paisley the next day, and “for the first time, Tricky realized that what they were doing was wrong.” Unfortunately, the only way Tricky can communicate with the Duke is to play more tricks on him: a series of half-tense, half-funny scenes unfolds. Despite the clear demarcation of good and evil, debut talent Rust avoids smarminess with lots of slapstick energy, and by not insisting on Duke’s conversion at the end (although she does hint at reform). Ages 3–7. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

"This book is a delight to read, with a fast-paced and amusing story. An added advantage is that it presents a life lesson in a light-hearted manner. Tricky is a book for all children's collections."

Canadian Review of Materials

"This is a beautifully illustrated picture book that eloquently teaches a valuable lesson... Recommended."

School Library Connection

"Heartwarming and humorous, kids are going to love hearing this debut picture book. It is fun to read out loud, and its illustrations will have little ones giggling as it is shared."

Sal's Fiction Addiction

"Their story is ultimately one of kindness and reform, so hilariously told that kids won't realize they've absorbed a behaviour lesson. Now that's a good trick."

Booklist

"Their story is ultimately one of kindness and reform, so hilariously told that kids won't realize they've absorbed a behaviour lesson. Now that's a good trick."

Booklist

10/01/2017
PreS-Gr 3— Duke, a man, and his dog, Tricky, work hard at playing tricks, cheating people, and generally being mean and greedy. When a new baker arrives in town, Duke and Tricky immediately steal a bunch of bread loves from her. One day, Duke steps out of the bakery to steal a newspaper and leaves Tricky alone with the baker, who pets the pup and gives him a treat. This act of kindness changes everything for the dog and he begins to wonder about the way he and Duke behave. When Duke destroys a beautiful cake that the baker has made, Tricky realizes that what he and Duke are doing is wrong. But of course, he can't really tell the man about his change of heart so he expresses himself in the only way he knows how: he plays tricks on his former partner. Duke is not happy to have been tricked. When he discovers that Tricky is responsible, he throws him out of the house. Left to his own devices, Tricky goes back to the bakery and follows the baker home, where he stays. Duke realizes that pulling pranks no longer has the same appeal when he's doing it alone. If an old dog can learn some new tricks, perhaps there's hope for Duke as well. Rust's art is attractive with the characters' faces being especially expressive. Colorful illustrations that expand and contract add to the power of the story. The writing and art complement each other beautifully with the straightforward text giving the story extra verve. The opportunities for discussions about kindness, second chances, and choices are legion. VERDICT This powerful story about kindness versus unkindness is a must-have for all libraries.— Heidi Grange, Summit Elementary School, Smithfield, UT

School Library Journal

2017-06-27
A dog and his man find redemption in this old-time cinema-style picture book.The Duke, a spindly, menacing white man in a dapper suit and bowler, is known around town for his dastardly deeds. Tricky, his loyal accomplice, applies his canine wiles in tripping people, menacing children, and pilfering baked goods. But the way to this dog's moral compass is through his stomach, and when the new baker, Ms. Paisley, offers him a treat, he overcomes his suspicion of this kindness—"and for the first time, Tricky realized that what they were doing was WRONG." Tricky takes his change of heart out on his owner, wreaking havoc on the house until he's caught, kicked out, and rehomed with brown-skinned Ms. Paisley. This loss spurs the Duke toward his own rehabilitation; readers learn that "if old dogs can learn new tricks, perhaps the Duke could too." There's not much complexity in either arc, since every character is broadly drawn as good, bad, or formerly bad, and the text can be a bit heavy-handed, perhaps gearing it for younger children. The animated illustrations are especially deft at showing small shifts in body language, making even the nasty Duke somewhat endearing. Rich images and a lovable dog make up for the slightly cloying message in this promising debut. (Picture book. 2-5)

Kirkus Reviews