Dexter
The true story of a canine social media star!
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- Gnome Road Publishing
More About This Title Dexter
English
Injured in a terrible accident, Dexter lost one front leg and the use of the other, but survived the ordeal through the skill of his veterinary team and love of his family. When Dexter finally came home, his family bought him a wheelchair, but Dexter wanted to go faster. He made up his mind to do the impossible, and so one day . . . he did! Now, people all across the world cheer for Dexter as he walks on two paws rather than four, not only at home in Colorado, but as he travels throughout the nation to share his story with fans of all ages. This unique picture book is sure to be a hit with pet lovers throughout the world and with anyone who embraces the power of positivity and taking things one “Dexter-step” at a time.
English
Bonnie Kelso is an author and illustrator from Las Vegas, Nevada. Even though she lives in the desert, she is obsessed with the ocean and everything in it, except the pollution. Environmental conservation is very important to her and her stories often include subtle messaging. Her sweet, silly, and often sassy characters engage children so they don't even realize that they are learning stuff.
Bonnie studied art at the Rhode Island School of Design. She is the Illustrator Coordinator for Nevada SCBWI and winner of the 2021 Karen Cushman Award. Her 2023 debut NUDI GILL: POISON POWERHOUSE OF THE SEA was chosen to represent the State of Nevada at the Library of Congress National Book Festival in Washington, D.C. It is the first informational fiction picture book all about nudibranchs (aka sea slugs). Other titles by Bonnie Kelso include WONDER OF THE WOODS, QUAIL TRAIL, and SEA SMILES—the first in a three book series, of which SLEEPY SEA is the second and SEA SUDS will be the third.
You can learn more about Bonnie and her work at www.BonnieKelso.com or follow her on Instagram @bonnie.kelso. She is represented by Liz Nealon @GreatDogLit.
Bonnie studied art at the Rhode Island School of Design. She is the Illustrator Coordinator for Nevada SCBWI and winner of the 2021 Karen Cushman Award. Her 2023 debut NUDI GILL: POISON POWERHOUSE OF THE SEA was chosen to represent the State of Nevada at the Library of Congress National Book Festival in Washington, D.C. It is the first informational fiction picture book all about nudibranchs (aka sea slugs). Other titles by Bonnie Kelso include WONDER OF THE WOODS, QUAIL TRAIL, and SEA SMILES—the first in a three book series, of which SLEEPY SEA is the second and SEA SUDS will be the third.
You can learn more about Bonnie and her work at www.BonnieKelso.com or follow her on Instagram @bonnie.kelso. She is represented by Liz Nealon @GreatDogLit.
English
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
Kelso, Bonnie & Kentee Pasek. Dexter: The Stand Up Dog. illus. by Bonnie Kelso. 32p. Gnome Road. Sept. 2025. Tr $19.95. ISBN 9781957655482. Gr 1-4–This is the true story of social media sensation and TV personality, Dexter, the Brittany Spaniel who learned to walk on his hind legs. Dexter was a typical quadruped until the day he slipped out the front door and was hit by a car. Saved by an amputation of his right front leg, Dexter was able to return to his family, who fitted him with a harness with wheels to help him get around. This was okay, but Dexter wanted more. He was determined to go places his wheels wouldn’t allow, like up his porch stairs. He discovered on his own how to balance and walk on his hind legs and soon that was his only method of mobility, much to the delight of his family and neighbors. When COVID-19 hit, Dexter’s online presence brought welcome smiles to many during lockdowns. Later when he was able to travel, Dexter went all over the country meeting children and celebrities. Kelso’s realistic illustrations give life to the ample and serviceable text while variety in the illustrations and text placement helps keep the story moving forward. VERDICT A true story of overcoming challenges one step at a time, this is sure to be popular with those already familiar with Dexter.–Catherine Callegari, School Library Journal.
KIRKUS:
The lightly fictionalized account of Kelso’s Brittany spaniel, who learned to walk upright following an injury.
At a shelter, Dexter finds his forever family: a tan-skinned mother and father and two kids. The sweet but hyper pup soon escapes his fenced-in yard and is immediately struck by a speeding vehicle. At the vet hospital, Mom and Dad anxiously wait for news. When Dexter comes home, the whole family is thrilled to see him. His right front leg is missing, and the left is weak, but he adapts to strapped-on front wheels: His “racecar” gives him mobility but not speed. Stymied by the inaccessible front porch, the dog makes a daring move. Although he wobbles on his rear legs, he tries and tries again, until he manages to walk up the steps. Practice improves his strength and skills, and Dexter gains a new perspective. Videos of the actual Dexter shared widely during Covid lockdown make him a messenger of “joy and positivity…all over the country.” The matter-of-fact narrative offers young readers a glimpse of Dexter’s thoughts and emotions, while Kelso’s eye-catching illustrations, featuring saturated hues of green and blue, are cartoon-style realistic. Dexter cuts an exuberant figure. In the hospital and in the small vignettes showing his travels, people of varied skin color, a child using a wheelchair, and some kids who appear to have chemo-related hair loss are all depicted.
Dogged determination in the face of challenges drives this delightful story. (QR code for more information on Dexter) (Informational picture book. 4-8)
Kelso, Bonnie & Kentee Pasek. Dexter: The Stand Up Dog. illus. by Bonnie Kelso. 32p. Gnome Road. Sept. 2025. Tr $19.95. ISBN 9781957655482. Gr 1-4–This is the true story of social media sensation and TV personality, Dexter, the Brittany Spaniel who learned to walk on his hind legs. Dexter was a typical quadruped until the day he slipped out the front door and was hit by a car. Saved by an amputation of his right front leg, Dexter was able to return to his family, who fitted him with a harness with wheels to help him get around. This was okay, but Dexter wanted more. He was determined to go places his wheels wouldn’t allow, like up his porch stairs. He discovered on his own how to balance and walk on his hind legs and soon that was his only method of mobility, much to the delight of his family and neighbors. When COVID-19 hit, Dexter’s online presence brought welcome smiles to many during lockdowns. Later when he was able to travel, Dexter went all over the country meeting children and celebrities. Kelso’s realistic illustrations give life to the ample and serviceable text while variety in the illustrations and text placement helps keep the story moving forward. VERDICT A true story of overcoming challenges one step at a time, this is sure to be popular with those already familiar with Dexter.–Catherine Callegari, School Library Journal.
KIRKUS:
The lightly fictionalized account of Kelso’s Brittany spaniel, who learned to walk upright following an injury.
At a shelter, Dexter finds his forever family: a tan-skinned mother and father and two kids. The sweet but hyper pup soon escapes his fenced-in yard and is immediately struck by a speeding vehicle. At the vet hospital, Mom and Dad anxiously wait for news. When Dexter comes home, the whole family is thrilled to see him. His right front leg is missing, and the left is weak, but he adapts to strapped-on front wheels: His “racecar” gives him mobility but not speed. Stymied by the inaccessible front porch, the dog makes a daring move. Although he wobbles on his rear legs, he tries and tries again, until he manages to walk up the steps. Practice improves his strength and skills, and Dexter gains a new perspective. Videos of the actual Dexter shared widely during Covid lockdown make him a messenger of “joy and positivity…all over the country.” The matter-of-fact narrative offers young readers a glimpse of Dexter’s thoughts and emotions, while Kelso’s eye-catching illustrations, featuring saturated hues of green and blue, are cartoon-style realistic. Dexter cuts an exuberant figure. In the hospital and in the small vignettes showing his travels, people of varied skin color, a child using a wheelchair, and some kids who appear to have chemo-related hair loss are all depicted.
Dogged determination in the face of challenges drives this delightful story. (QR code for more information on Dexter) (Informational picture book. 4-8)
