Pets to the Rescue: Brave Norman

Steve McDonald went to the animal shelter to find a new pet. When he saw Norman, he fell in love with the dog. Norman loves his family and his family loves him. But one day, Norman starts bumping into things. The veterinarian says Norman is going blind.  

After Norman became blind, “he bumped into things. He was scared of noises. He barked when people came near.” The one place Norman is still happy is on the beach. “At the beach, there were no trees to hit. There were no cars to scare him.” One day, his family takes him to the beach and Norman is the only one who hears a girl calling for help. She is far out in the ocean and needs help! Even though Norman is blind, the dog is able to pull the girl to safety. Being blind did not stop Norman from helping. Being blind did not stop Norman from being brave.  

As part of the Ready to Read Level 1 Series, Brave Norman is intended for children who are just starting to read. The story is told using word repetition and simple sentences. The story has a simple plot that follows Norman and his family. Each page has a full-colored illustration to help readers visualize the story’s events.  

Brave Norman follows Norman’s daily life with his family. Readers will empathize with Norman when he becomes blind. However, being blind doesn’t stop him from helping others. After he saves the girl, Norman goes on to visit hospitals. “Norman can make children laugh. Norman can help sick people feel a little better.” Brave Norman is an engaging story that shows that even though Norman is blind, he’s still valuable. For more stories that feature dogs, check out The Dog That Dug for Dinosaurs by Shirley Raye Redmond and Marley Firehouse Dog by John Grogan. 

Sexual Content  

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Violence  

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Drugs and Alcohol  

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Language  

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Supernatural 

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Spiritual Content  

• None