Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann

Rathmann, Peggy. Officer Buckle and Gloria. G.P. Putnam’s Sons, New York, 1995. 30 pages. $15.95 ISBN 0-399-22616-8

This picture book by Peggy Rathmann is geared to young children, aged 4-8 years old, but will delight any reader. The story centers around two characters, Officer Buckle and a dog named Gloria. Officer Buckle is the town’s safety expert, but most citizens in his town of Napville do not find his safety tip presentations entertaining -- not until his newly appointed police dog, Gloria, begins to accompany him. Suddenly, everyone at Napville School is paying attention to and heeding Officer Buckle’s safety tips. The shift is evident through text and illustrations. Previously, students could be heard snoring or be seen whizzing paper airplanes during presentations, but now, with Gloria here, students are cheering and sending illustrated thank-you notes afterward. Phone calls are flooding in from other area schools requesting presentations, asking, “please, bring along that police dog.” Officer Buckle is tickled over his new popularity and enjoys his new canine friend, Gloria, until he is deeply hurt to discover that Gloria is actually stealing the show. Will the presentations continue without Officer Buckle -- or without Gloria – or, will the duo find a way to share the stage?

Peggy Rathmann delivers not only a funny story but a safety net for exploration of emotions. Through age-appropriate language and colorful cartoon-like depictions, readers experience what the characters feel -- unappreciated, rewarded, lonely, happy, and hurt. Above all, Officer Buckle and Gloria is a story about friendship, sure to be enjoyed by all readers, not just those within the 4-8 age range.